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Had Stomach Infection. Red Rashes Appeared After Eating Food. Undergone Allergy Food Panel Test. Worrisone

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Posted on Thu, 14 Mar 2013
Question: Am facing Skin allergy rashes, hives from last 5months. Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache was symptoms. Was hospitalised for severe stomach infection in the month of September 2012. Within a span of week started itching as i ate something. kind of allergic to food. Skin gets red, swollen, rashes, hives. This happens in entire body except for face. Took consultation of one skin specilaist but as medicine dose gets over within 1day again same problem. have undergone allery food panel test now. reports awaited. Once a year i have experienced food poisoning from last 2yrs.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sujoy Khan (5 hours later)
Hello,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic and thank you for writing to us.

Your condition is consistent with chronic idiopathic urticaria (chronic, as duration more than 6 weeks). The first picture is consistent with either dermographism (stroking the skin results in redness and swelling) or delayed pressure urticaria (if you had pressed that area of the body on a hard surface).

80% of people with this condition do NOT have an underlying allergy and food allergy/sensitivities are almost never seen. Some people do complain of increased sensation of itch with brinjal, egg, shrimp but these are food high in histamine which is the culprit in causing these attacks.

So I would not worry too much about the pending allergy food panel unless you have had vomiting, rashes, lip swelling, tongue swelling within 5-30mins of consuming a food item that was the consistent feature (i.e., happens every time!)

The primary trigger for the body was the infective episode and this is a common feature in many patients. Other triggers: hot water (bath), sunlight (solar urticaria), thyroid abnormality, diabetes, etc. The last 2 conditions are associated with autoimmune urticaria meaning your own body considers your skin as foreign. There is however no blood test available to confidently diagnose this.

Blood results:
Full blood count was normal, with no eosinophilia (high eosinophil counts) which is a good sign.
Stool occult blood was positive - which means you were bleeding from high up (stomach) that could have been related to the gastroenteritis if you had at that time (November 2012)
Total IgE 155 IU/ml
TSH level appears normal to me but the laboratory has quoted 2 different reference ranges, and if truly low, would be explained by fT4 levels (free thyroxine).
Total cholesterol was raised (not much) but triglycerides more elevated.
Blood glucose - normal

You need the following tests:
1. C3 C4 levels - they should be normal, but if low would suggest a vasculitis.
2. TSH, fT4 and Thyroid antibodies - anti-TPO, anti-TG
3. Vit D 25(OH)D3 levels
4. Antinuclear antibody

I am not sure what Lerafil is, so check with your doctor what it is for?
You MUST stop the Nizonide after 3 days.
Plan:
Allegra 180mg twice daily for 3 months
Monlevo once at night for 3 months
Hydroxyzine 25mg at night ONLY if required (very sedative)

I hope that was useful.
Best Wishes.

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sujoy Khan

Allergist and Immunologist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 584 Questions

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Had Stomach Infection. Red Rashes Appeared After Eating Food. Undergone Allergy Food Panel Test. Worrisone

Hello,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic and thank you for writing to us.

Your condition is consistent with chronic idiopathic urticaria (chronic, as duration more than 6 weeks). The first picture is consistent with either dermographism (stroking the skin results in redness and swelling) or delayed pressure urticaria (if you had pressed that area of the body on a hard surface).

80% of people with this condition do NOT have an underlying allergy and food allergy/sensitivities are almost never seen. Some people do complain of increased sensation of itch with brinjal, egg, shrimp but these are food high in histamine which is the culprit in causing these attacks.

So I would not worry too much about the pending allergy food panel unless you have had vomiting, rashes, lip swelling, tongue swelling within 5-30mins of consuming a food item that was the consistent feature (i.e., happens every time!)

The primary trigger for the body was the infective episode and this is a common feature in many patients. Other triggers: hot water (bath), sunlight (solar urticaria), thyroid abnormality, diabetes, etc. The last 2 conditions are associated with autoimmune urticaria meaning your own body considers your skin as foreign. There is however no blood test available to confidently diagnose this.

Blood results:
Full blood count was normal, with no eosinophilia (high eosinophil counts) which is a good sign.
Stool occult blood was positive - which means you were bleeding from high up (stomach) that could have been related to the gastroenteritis if you had at that time (November 2012)
Total IgE 155 IU/ml
TSH level appears normal to me but the laboratory has quoted 2 different reference ranges, and if truly low, would be explained by fT4 levels (free thyroxine).
Total cholesterol was raised (not much) but triglycerides more elevated.
Blood glucose - normal

You need the following tests:
1. C3 C4 levels - they should be normal, but if low would suggest a vasculitis.
2. TSH, fT4 and Thyroid antibodies - anti-TPO, anti-TG
3. Vit D 25(OH)D3 levels
4. Antinuclear antibody

I am not sure what Lerafil is, so check with your doctor what it is for?
You MUST stop the Nizonide after 3 days.
Plan:
Allegra 180mg twice daily for 3 months
Monlevo once at night for 3 months
Hydroxyzine 25mg at night ONLY if required (very sedative)

I hope that was useful.
Best Wishes.