Symptoms and Difference Between Tree Nut and Peanut Allergies

What is the difference between a peanut and a tree nut allergy? And what are the symptoms of both? First off let's answer why the two are different. Both allergic reactions are very similar and to similar products. However, there is a fundamental biological difference between peanuts and tree nuts that causes them to be separately labeled.

In the case of a tree nut, they are known as "true nuts" growing from where else but trees. This includes a variety of nuts, all of which but not limited to: hazel nuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, hickory nuts, and so on.

What are peanuts then? Just like the tomato, a vegetable that is really a fruit, a peanut is not actually a nut because it does not grow on trees, plus it's composition is different. It actually belongs to the legume family because it grows in the ground, hence it is a bean.

However, all the allergies really separate? It is rather common actually for someone to either have an allergy to both (30-40% of sufferers readily have an allergy to both, according to wisegeek.com), or they can obtain an allergy from repeated exposure. Thus, if you have one allergy it is a good idea to stay away from the other.

This includes ingesting the nuts themselves, products nuts are mixed into (ice creams, chocolates, cakes, etc), and any nut oil or butter product created from them. Unlike soy allergies, where a small group of people can ingest soy sauce because the processing removes certain proteins that are more allergy inducing than others, you won't have such luck with nuts of any kind. Also, those of you with strictly peanut allergies, your reaction tends to be worse than those suffering from tree nut allergies.

Now, what are the symptoms? Common for most allergies, they include irritation of the skin, wheezing of the lungs and running of the nose, itching, vomiting, hives, and swelling. In more extreme cases, also with most other allergies, anaphylaxis can occur. This is when passages swell up and breathing is heavily constricted. Unfortunately is usually leads also to shock and passing out. It is always a good idea, with any allergy, to carry around an Edipen. This provides a shot of adrenaline and relieves the anaphylaxis.

Unlike most allergies, nut allergies can occur hours after ingesting. With some, it occurs when they exercise, and with the elevated blood levels and oxygen, anaphylaxis occurs and no one can pinpoint why. Usually allergies start a few seconds to minutes after exposure. So if you find yourself ingesting nuts and then feeling the above symptoms hours later, get yourself to an allergist to get checked out.

Always read ingredients, keep away from anything that potentially has nuts of any kind, and you won't be affected by this allergy. Just be smart, and don't risk anything.
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Percentage, and other allergy information, at: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-relationship-between-a-nut-allergy-and-peanuts.htm