Corn Allergy
Corn or Maize is more likely to give problems with intolerance rather than allergy. Corn has become the most common ingredient of any daily used product. Corn used as ingredient of body powder to shampoos and the list is growing. Lot of other food products like chocolate, syrups, fast food products contain derivatives of the corn. There is a long list of the corn derivative products and very long list of corn derivative products that we also don’t know. There are lot of research going on Corn. There are oils being extracted from corn, sugar syrups being prepared from corn, pet food being prepared from corn and so on. It is very chronic to have allergy for such a commonly used ingredient, because the person would be restricted with all the products derived from corn.
Person having allergy to corn should not only watch out for food products containing corn but also other products that come in contact with the body. Person suffering from corn allergy may react to any corn derived product.
Corn Allergy Symptoms
- Anaphylactic shock to corn
- Eye reaction to corn: Conjunctivitis
- Gastrointestinal reaction to corn: Abdominal pain and swelling, diarrhoea, Gastric upset, Nausea, Vomiting, Wind, constant stomach aches & worst irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Mouth, nasal and ear reaction to corn: Ear blocks, Rhinitis, Sneezing, Itching mouth.
- Respiratory reactions to corn: Coughing, Wheezing, breathing problems, Asthma, bronchitis, sinus infections etc.
- Skin reactions to corn: Itching, rashes, urticaria, eczema, contact dermatitis, angioedema.
- Other symptoms like: Chronic headaches, migraine headaches, joint pains, juvenile arthritis,
Allergens that can contain corn
Sweetcorn soup, soup mixes , breakfast cereals, corn syrups, custard powders, gravy mixes, cornflour, polenta, ready meals and sauces, Food starch, fructose, flavouring, fruit juice concentrates, Glucose, gluconic acid, glucose syrups, Honey, Corn oil, Corn starch, Citric acid, Lactate, lactic acid, Maize, Malic acid, Natural flavouring, powdered sugar, iodized salt, Sucrose, Yeast, Zein and now a days even medicines contains corn.
The most important the crucial part is to identify the allergy. Many allergies share common symptoms in all, so it becomes very difficult to pin-point the allergy just looking at the allergy symptoms. The sufferer may have to undergo allergy tests carried out at allergy research centres. These allergy clinics are quite equipped and aware of different allergy testing techniques for diagnosing the cause of allergy.
Following are some of the Corn allergy tests performed by the allergy specialists
- Blood test: CAP-RAST
- Blood test: ELISA
- Skin test: Skin prick
- Skin test: Intradermal test
- Nasal challenge
- Inhalation challenge test
- Diet elimination test
- Food Challenge test
- Symptoms diary
- Exercise challenge test.
Corn Allergy Treatment
The best treatment for corn allergy is avoiding corn related products. Products containing corn should be cut off from your daily diet list. It is observed in many cases that people find themselves in better shape after eliminating all the food products that contained corn. Now a day even MEDICINE CONTAINS CORN.
Medicine used for curing Corn allergy symptoms are like
Antihistamine, adrenaline, steroids, anti-spasmodic drugs, anti-diarrhoeal drugs, pain killers, anti-emetics, antacids, sympathomimetics, paracetamol, decongestant, immunotherapy, immune suppressants, emollients etc.
There are various other therapies used for curing corn allergy and giving relief from corn allergic reaction.
- Aromatherapy
- Herbalism
- Homeopathy
- Acupuncture
- Buteyko method
- Relaxation techniques
- Yoga
- Bach flower remedies
- Chinese herbal medicine etc.
