Nut allergies are quite common. They can occur in kids and adults alike. So, if you’re confused about what tree nut allergy is, what are it’s causes and symptoms, and when you should visit an allergy center, then here is everything you need to know about it.

Tree Nut Allergy

Allergies are defined as fight-or-flight reactions imposed by your immune system on the body. Usually, allergies are caused by several things that your immune system can’t stand and it can cause a flare of reactions in the body.

Tree nut allergy is the type of food allergy caused by nuts that are specifically grown on trees. Pretty simple, right? But, how does a lone nut, that’s grown on a tree, can cause fatal reactions in the body?

Well, the answer isn’t as simple. See, allergies are pretty much related to the immune system and that can be different for different people. Some might be fine after eating nuts, while some can be in the throes of ugly reactions that can alter their everyday lives.

So, what exactly are tree nuts? Tree nuts are nuts that are grown on trees. Now, it is worth mentioning that coconut and nutmeg (both having the word “nut” in them) aren’t nuts even though they’re grown on trees. So, they are not included in the list of tree nuts.

Tree nuts can include:

  • Almonds
  • Walnuts
  • Pecans
  • Hazelnuts
  • Pine nuts
  • Cashew nuts
  • Pistachio nuts
  • Macadamia nuts

Causes Of Tree Nut Allergy

Allergies can be pretty confusing because even though there is a certain cause of them, a.k.a. allergens or triggers, it can be hard to pinpoint how exactly these allergens go inside the bloodstream and wreak havoc.

Usually, your immune system is quite capable of fighting off foreign invasions in the body, and that is the job of antibodies. Antibodies are typically foreign body fighting agents that reduce the devastating effects of anything abnormal in your body.

With allergens though, you can’t be certain what suits you and what doesn’t, until you get tested. There is a huge list of allergens, and there are a lot of food components included in the list, that can lead to aggressive allergic reactions.

Since we’re concerned with tree nuts here, we can specifically talk about how these seemingly harmless nutrient-packed superfoods can turn into something lethal. Nuts have lots of oils and components in them that your immune system can be highly sensitive to. Whenever you consume nuts without knowing that you’re allergic, you can feel nauseous, bloated, feverish, and achy all over.

This is essentially your body’s defense mode activating. It’s trying its best to flush out the toxins from the body and trying to get the body chemistry back to normal.

Even though the primary cause of tree nut allergy is still in the dark, it can be concluded that you shouldn’t eat nuts without getting tested first, because you don’t know whether you can be allergic to them or not.

It’s best that you keep track of the things your body feels after you eat tree nuts. This can be a good gauge of letting you and your allergist know what you’re dealing with. This is an easy measure for someone prone to allergies.

Symptoms Of Tree Nut Allergy

Here are some general symptoms of tree nut allergy.

  • You will experience high-grade fever.
  • Your chest will get constricted and breathing will be extremely difficult.
  • You might feel sick to your stomach and eating nuts can make you feel nauseous.
  • In the worst cases, you might end up vomiting.
  • Your skin will break out into red and itchy patches. This will be on the face, arms, legs, chest, backs of your knees and back.
  • Your face might get swollen. It will show on your eyes, lips, and the area surrounding your nose.
  • Your stomach might be very upset and there also might be digestive issues.
  • Diarrhea is also pretty common, and it can be dangerous too, since you lose water at a rapid speed.
  • The most lethal symptom of tree nut allergy, or any food allergy, is anaphylaxis. It is the stopping of breathing altogether and it’s a serious medical emergency. If it’s not dealt with right away, it can cause death, because if oxygen doesn’t reach your brain or heart for long, then things can take a turn for the worst.

Diagnosis Of Tree Nut Allergy

In any type of allergy, let alone tree nut allergy, diagnosis is extremely important. You need to understand that all allergies have pretty similar symptoms and the doctor at the allergy clinic needs to pinpoint exactly what you’re dealing with. For tree nut allergy, you can expect:

A Patch Test On The Skin

In this test, the allergen is exposed to the skin and the symptoms are monitored. It’s an easy way to find out what allergy you’re dealing with.

An Allergen Test

In this test, an allergen is consumed. This is typically done on people with a suspicion of food allergies or pollen allergies. Once you take the allergen, the symptoms arise almost instantly and the doctor can get a good idea.

A Blood Test

A standard allergy blood test is also done. In this food allergy test, you are tested for a variety of allergies, from food allergies to environmental allergies and more. This is also a very quick diagnosis indicator for doctors and they can do other tests, in cross-diagnosis, to get a solid idea about what you’re feeling and dealing with.

Treatment For Tree Nut Allergy

Now that you know what tree nut allergy is, how it’s caused and what are the associated symptoms, here are some effective treatment and prevention options for it.

Exclude The Tree Nut From Your Diet

First things first, you need to eliminate all kinds of tree nuts from your diet. Once you get the diagnosis and you know that it’s a tree nut allergy, it’s time to say goodbye to the nuts for good. Once you stop exposing your body to the allergen, you’ll feel a lot better.

Find Alternatives If You Want

If you think that nuts have great nutritional sources and you need the nutrients in your body, then you can find alternatives. There are a lot of foods that mimic the nutritional value of nuts and you can consume them without having to go through an episode of bad allergic reactions.

Be Careful Eating Food With Nuts

You should look out for foods that have nuts in them, even if there aren’t any visible. A lot of the time, processed foods have a lot of nuts, seeds, and nut derivatives in them. But the amazing thing is that the label always says that there is something in it.

So, you can check and buy food wisely, because the last thing you need is to eat foods, mindlessly, that have nuts in them. So, always be careful when you’re out grocery shopping because you’re always at risk.

Conclusion

Tree nut allergy can aggravate from 0 to 100 quickly, so it’s good to know about the possible symptoms and causes so that you can combat them. If you’re noticing the symptoms after eating nuts, then find allergy doctor for a checkup and allergy tests.