An individual with pea allergy might experience adverse reactions if ingested or directly handled. Once a reaction to peas develop, a doctor should be consulted regarding allergy testing for an accurate diagnosis. Even though unlikely, pea allergy can put a highly sensitive individual at risk for anaphylaxis.
Food allergies usually arise if the immune system erroneously identifies a protein in a harmless food as a threat. Once this occurs, antibodies are produced along with several chemicals that trigger the allergy symptoms all over the body.
If an individual is highly sensitive to peas, the body perceives its proteins as a threat and starts to defend itself. The presence of the chemicals in the soft tissues triggers inflammation.
What are the indications?
The indications of pea allergy generally include respiratory, digestive and skin reactions such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy eyes
- Throat irritation
- Gas
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Hives
- Contact dermatitis
- Generalized itchiness
Management
Exposure to peas must be avoided to effectively manage pea allergy. The minor symptoms from pea allergy can be managed with an oral antihistamine. These medications work by limiting the body from releasing histamine, thus lessening the allergy symptoms.
As for the skin reactions, they are managed with topical histamine creams and corticosteroids to lessen the itchiness and inflammation.