In the "Semana Nacional de Conscientização sobre Alergia Alimentar" video, Dr. Germana Pimentel Stefani discusses the prevalence and differences between food allergies in adults and children in Brazil. Food allergies, which affect 4 million adults in Brazil, are reactions to foods that activate the immune system. While milk, soy, egg, wheat, and peanuts are common allergens in children, adults are more likely to be allergic to nuts, chestnuts, and shellfish. Adults experience more immediate reactions, such as swelling of the lips, eyes, or throat, while children may have delayed reactions with gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis is based on clinical history, and a provocation test may be used to confirm suspicions. The increase in food allergies is multifactorial, with genetics, environmental factors, and early life exposures playing a role. Proper management includes avoiding the offending food, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, and being educated on health, such as reading labels and having a plan of action in case of an unexpected reaction. Newer proactive therapies, like immunotherapy for severe and immediate allergies, have also been developed. The fundamental approach to managing food allergies is the avoidance of the allergenic protein to ensure the patient remains well-nourished, grows, and develops without experiencing a reaction.
00:00:00 In this section of the "Semana Nacional de Conscientização sobre Alergia Alimentar" video, Dr. Germana Pimentel Stefani, a Brazilian allergist and member of the Brazilian Allergy and Immunology Association, discusses the prevalence and differences between food allergies in adults and children in Brazil. Food allergies are reactions to foods that activate the immune system, and they are becoming increasingly common. While milk, soy, egg, wheat, and peanuts are the most common allergens in children, adults are more likely to be allergic to nuts, chestnuts, and shellfish. The mechanisms and symptoms also differ, with adults experiencing more immediate reactions such as swelling of the lips, eyes, or throat, while children may have delayed reactions with gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis is primarily based on a patient's clinical history, and a provocation test may be used to confirm suspicions. The increase in food allergies is multifactorial, with genetics, environmental factors, and early life exposures playing a role. Proper management includes avoiding the offending food and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.
00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Alergia alimentar: problema afeta 4 milhões de adultos no Brasil" (Food allergy: a problem affecting 4 million adults in Brazil), the speaker discusses the importance of avoiding the allergenic food to protect oneself from food allergies. The treatment includes a diet of exclusion, education on health, such as reading labels, and having a plan of action in case of an unexpected reaction. Newer proactive therapies, like immunotherapy for severe and immediate allergies to cow's milk or eggs, have also been developed in recent years. However, the fundamental approach to managing food allergies is the avoidance of the allergenic protein, ensuring the patient remains well-nourished, grows, and develops without experiencing a reaction.