Allergen, Individual-Food Mustard Sarson (Brassica / Sinapsis Spp.) Test

An Allergic reaction is a condition that occurs when the food immune system overreacts to the allergen. These reactions are specific and differ from person to person. Allergy to Mustard is also one of the rarest allergens. It occurs in people who have other allergies such as atopic dermatitis. Mustard allergy usually starts before the age of three years. Mustard allergy often produces severe symptoms and effects skin and gastrointestinal tract. Food products having mustard mention it as an ingredient on their label because it can affect gastrointestinal track which is hazardous for life. Other symptoms i.e. developed within an hour of eating mustard is wheezing, dizziness, diarrhea, swelling of lips and face etc.

To find out if you have the mustard allergy, you need to see a doctor and have allergy testing. The Doctor will ask patient about their reaction, including the symptoms, how long it took for a reaction to occur, which food cause it, food was cooked or not and where it was eaten. Your doctor should also know about any existing allergies you may have. The Patient should tell allergist about family members with some allergy because in most cases allergies are inherited. Doctor conduct few tests such as Skin Prick test, Blood Test, Elimination diet etc.

While proteins are harmless to the body, your immune overreacts to mustard. The body responds by creating IgE antibodies, complex proteins that are intended to fight against mustard proteins. During the production of these antibodies, cells in the body respond by producing histamine which causes swelling and inflammation in soft tissue. If there is some allergic reaction after having mustard doesn’t necessarily mean that you are allergic to it. It could be due to food intolerance. Your doctor can identify the difference better.

Skin Prick Test: - Diluted foods are placed on the patient arm and then the skin is pierced, if there is any reaction such as itching, swelling. It is likely to have some allergy. But this is not most accurate test Blood Test: - In this patient blood sample is tested to check for IgE antibodies that are specific to certain food. Elimination diet: - Suspected foods are not eaten for few weeks to see if symptoms have gone and then they are reintroduced to see whether symptoms return. Oral food Challenge: - In this procedure patient is given several foods with small amounts and patients eats each one. Reaction to each is observed keenly. This is quite accurate.