What is Pseudoallergy—And How Is it Different From Allergy?

Approximately half of the world's population live with allergies. Those who want to keep this disorder under control should know exactly if they actually have an allergy and what causes the reaction.

How do you know if you have an allergy?

An allergy is diagnosed with a clinical blood test and test for general immunoglobulin E. This test works with children of any age (including newborns) as well as with adults. A special test, including a blood test for immunoglobulin E and skin allergy tests, can be done for everyone except children under 3 years old.

It Might Not Be Real!

In many cases, there can be a reaction to an allergen while the test shows up as negative. Such a reaction is not related to immunological disorders, and the substance which causes this reaction is not an antigen. The main symptom of pseudoallergy is a strong one-time reaction to the first contact with a substance or a type of food. The most frequent symptoms include urticaria, swelling, and gastrointestinal disorder. It typically happens when eating certain foods, or taking certain dietary supplements or medicines, and its intensity is directly related to the amount of food or medicine taken. Unlike a true allergy, which normally happens during the first contact with an allergen and doesn't depend on its quantity, pseudoallergy can develop at any age. This means that you could have eaten fish for your entire life but develop an intolerance when you are forty years old.

Most often, pseudoallergy is caused by eating the following foods: chicken eggs, seafood, chocolate, sausages and other processed meat, canned meat and fish, strawberries, pickled vegetables, and red wine. It can also be caused by various food additives and dyes such as monosodium glutamate, carmine, and tartrazine.

Can It Be Cured?

In most cases, pseudo allergic reactions develop because of general disorders, improper diet, dysbiosis, and chronic gastrointestinal disorders. The good news is that pseudoallergy can be prevented if one succeeds in overcoming these disorders and avoids contact with the food containing the allergen for an adequate period of time.

However, this is difficult to do on your own. First of all, only a doctor can distinguish a pseudoallergy from a real one based on your medical history and test results. Keep in mind that in some cases your diet alone will not help, and you will need to take appropriate medications.