Chicken Allergy: Symptoms And Recommendations

Chicken allergy is an autoimmune reaction that prevents the consumption of this food due to the symptoms it triggers. It’s a problem that can arise at any age, although it’s more common to start in childhood. Below, we will give all the explanations in this regard.

Before starting, you should know that allergies are characterized by an inefficient functioning of the immune system, which identifies substances that are harmless or beneficial to health as harmful. They have a chronic and irreversible character. In some cases, they can even trigger fatal reactions.

What is chicken allergy?

When chicken meat is ingested, the body’s defense system interprets certain proteins in the animal as “harmful” and, therefore, capable of putting the person’s health at risk.

It is then that a series of inflammatory mechanisms are triggered, generating characteristic symptoms. This usually occurs with breathing difficulties, bloating, intestinal discomfort and pain.

This whole process just described is known as a condition of chicken allergy. However, the severity of symptoms depends on the degree of the allergy itself.

Chicken allergy is a relatively common problem in the population. In fact, chicken is the meat most prone to allergies, along with turkey. Cross-reactivity between the two is frequent.

We want to emphasize that it is possible to develop this hypersensitivity process to the bird’s proteins, but this does not prevent the consumption of eggs.

Associated symptoms

It is important to know the symptoms of a chicken allergy. In this way, we can differentiate allergic processes from other pathologies that have nothing to do with hypersensitivity. The basic symptoms, according to a study published in Current Gastroenterology Reports , are as follows:

• Urticaria.
• Dermatitis.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Cough.
• Rhinitis.
• Asthma.
• Hypotension.

All symptoms need not appear together. In fact, depending on the degree of allergy, they can be more or less noticeable. It is important to emphasize that, in the most severe cases, it is also possible that an anaphylactic shock may occur, which may endanger the individual’s life.

This type of process can cause cardiorespiratory arrest if not treated with the proper pharmacology, as confirmed by scientific evidence. Faced with this situation, the ambulance must be called without delay.

Chicken Allergy Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a chicken allergy is always up to a health professional, as stated in an article published in  Nature Reviews Immunology . Tolerance tests are usually done in the mouth to check for clear symptoms of allergy.

If this does not occur, an antigen can be inoculated in controlled doses subcutaneously to observe the subsequent reaction. Of course, these are tests that should always be carried out under the supervision of a professional, as they require experience and methodology.

Furthermore, they can carry a certain risk. In case of anaphylaxis, it is necessary to have the necessary medications to reverse the process. Otherwise, the individual’s life would be at stake.

Other foods to avoid

It is common for people allergic to chicken to also be sensitive to turkey meat. However, it is very rare to have hypersensitivity reactions to other types of animal foods.

Red meat, for example, is usually not a problem. This allergy is also unrelated to egg allergy; it is an independent pathology that responds to different antigens.

Anyone who is allergic to chicken needs to read the nutrition labels before buying processed products. The presence of traces of birds in the products can trigger this series of allergic processes, causing discomfort to the patient.

In this sense, it is best to try to avoid all those foods or meat-based preparations of industrial origin. Those present in the frozen area, such as nuggets, are usually prepared based on birds and are therefore likely to cause allergies in predisposed individuals.

When to see a doctor?

It is recommended to consult a doctor if, after eating chicken meat, you experience any discomfort. If gastric discomfort, such as pain, diarrhea, bloating, or difficulty breathing, is felt more than twice in a row, it is possible that there is an allergy to this bird.

Also, it is essential to see a professional immediately if you start to feel dizzy after eating chicken or if you notice a drop in blood pressure. In these cases, serious consequences can occur. It is best to go to the emergency room as soon as possible, even if you get a rash.

Allergy to chicken, an autoimmune problem

As we have already mentioned, a chicken allergy is nothing more than an autoimmune reaction in which the defense system over-responds to an antigen that is unable to harm human health. However, it is a chronic condition that does not yet have an established cure.

If you are diagnosed with allergy to chicken, it is possible that the same will occur with other types of birds, so be careful and avoid consumption. Otherwise, you may experience unpleasant symptoms.