Contents:
- Medical Video: Interesting Iodine Facts
- Is it iodine allergy?
- What are the symptoms of iodine allergy?
- Some things you should avoid if you have iodine allergy
- What is iodine allergy medicine?
Medical Video: Interesting Iodine Facts
Food allergies are one of the most common types of allergies. You may be more familiar with cow's milk allergies or egg allergies, but have you ever heard of iodine allergies? Or do you know someone who has this allergy? Or maybe ... you are allergic to iodine, but never realized it? Come on, find out more about this one type of allergy.
Is it iodine allergy?
Allergy is an unnatural reaction that the immune system raises against something you eat, drink, touch, or breathe that is actually harmless.
Iodine is a mineral that is naturally contained in certain foods or drinks, is also used in several drugs. Iodine is not a dangerous substance because the body needs it to work properly. With the help of iodine, the thyroid gland can produce enzymes that maintain the health of every body cell and maintain the body's metabolic functions. In fact, iodine is one of the nutritional needs of pregnant women.
But because your body thinks iodine is dangerous (even though,anyway, no), the immune system releases antibodies to fight the "threat". There is a variety of allergic reactions that can affect the skin, digestive tract, to the respiratory or cardiovascular system.
Doctors don't know why some people can experience iodine allergy. Most allergies decrease in the family. So if you have close family members who have allergies, your risk will be greater to experience allergies.
What are the symptoms of iodine allergy?
Iodine allergic reactions can appear within two hours after the first exposure. Symptoms and severity can vary between people, depending on how much iodine exposure is experienced.
Some symptoms include:
- Itchy and painful skin rash (it can also occur without a rash); skin problems come first, and can occur anywhere on the body.
- A tingling sensation on the lips that spreads across the face.
- Swollen eyes, tongue and lips.
- Runny nose.
- Wheezing sound (breath sounds "tickling").
- Nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps; usually because eating food contains iodine, arises later than other allergic reactions.
In some cases, a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylactic shock, can also occur and this is an emergency medical situation. Symptoms of anaphylactic shock can occur simultaneously and occur immediately after the last exposure. Symptoms include swollen face and lips, drastic drop in blood pressure, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath. Get emergency medical help immediately if this happens because it can be life threatening.
Some things you should avoid if you have iodine allergy
Iodine allergy is included in food allergies. So, you should avoid:
- Iodized salt.
- Iodized fruits, such as various berries (blueberries, gooseberries, cranberries, grapes, tomatoes, eggplants, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and chillies).
- Iodized eggs (fortified).
- Milk and milk products for example, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
- Nuts.
- Sea fish (including crabs, shrimp, squid and shellfish)
- Seaweed
Vegetables that are eaten by their roots or tubers, such as potatoes, can also contain iodine. But a lot or not of iodine will depend on soil conditions. It's safe, peel the potato skin and wash the vegetables or fruit thoroughly before cooking to reduce iodine levels.
Iodine is also contained in wound topical drugs.
What is iodine allergy medicine?
If you or someone closest to you has experienced one or more of the above symptoms, immediately consult a doctor. If you are positive for allergies, your doctor can give you an allergy medication that suits your condition and restrictions on drugs, food, and drinks that should be avoided to prevent the reaction from appearing.
