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Difference between allergy and intolerance | Allergy vs Intolerance
: 131Paper : Medical Differences FAQs | Platform : Vs or Differences FAQs | Category : General FAQs
People often confuse between the two as both cause some kind of adverse reaction after consuming some kind of food.
What is Food Allergy?
It is an adverse immune response after consuming some particular type of food. This happens because our body mistakes some food for infection and starts developing antibodies against it. This causes an allergic reaction. The chemical that is released as a result of this reaction is called histamines. Some common food items that cause allergy are-
Fish, nuts, milk wheat and soy. Some common reactions are as follows.
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Pain in abdomen
- Chest pain
What is Food Intolerance?
Food Intolerance n the other hand means being hypersensitive to some kind of food. It is a non-allergic reaction and happens mainly due to indigestion or the lack of enzymes required in the digestive process. For example, some people feel uncomfortable after consuming dairy products. Some of the common symptoms are as follows.
- Nausea
- Gas
- Cramps
- Headache
- Diarrohea
Let us now see the differences below
|
Allergy |
Intolerance |
|
An allergy means an adverse immune response to a specific type of food. |
Intolerance means the body reacting adversely to a particular kind of food. |
|
Food is mistaken as an infectious agent and the bstartarts produce antibodies to fight against it. |
Intolerance is due to the lack of certain enzymes or chemicals required in the digestion of food. |
|
Skin prick test, blood test and oral food challenge test is used to detect allergy. |
Elisa testing, hydrogen breath testing, elimination diet test are used for diagnosis. |
|
Symptoms appear immediately after consuming food. |
Symptoms may appear after a few hours. |
|
It can be severe and lead to a life-threatening condition. |
It is not so severe. |
