UAE | Health
'I looked like the Hulk'
- By Anupa Kurian, Readers Editor
- Published: 00:00 May 7, 2010
- Image Credit: Supplied
- Daoud J. Khalaf.
Dubai: I have lived with food allergies all my life and that is a full 47 years.
From early childhood in Amman, Jordan, my body would break out into a persistent itchy rash all of a sudden. Using the process of elimination and isolation, my parents discovered I was allergic to canned peas. I was allergic to a food additive.Over the years, it was also found that I was allergic to antibiotics sulfa and penicillin — my entire body bloats up. It is a dangerous allergy, so I always carry a piece of paper in my wallet with the information [in case of an emergency].On the food part, it is easy to take precautions. I check whether the peas offered to me are fresh frozen (safe option) or canned (dangerous). Also, as the reaction is to an additive, I am careful with all canned foods. I eat only fresh or fresh frozen foods.Treatment using anti-histamines takes time for the irritating rash to subside. The toxin needs to exit the body completely before things return to normal. That usually takes about a week of redness, swelling and itching.
Immediately after my wedding, I had an allergic attack. It was the first time my wife had been exposed to my malaise. When she saw me swollen in the morning, she thought she had married the Incredible Hulk!Nowadays, testing for allergies is a simple clinical procedure and is conclusive. I had all three of my children undergo the procedure and all tested negative.It is the duty of every parent to investigate allergies and detect their causes in their children. An allergy test can save lives.
— Daoud J. Khalaf, Senior manager in procurement and contracts, as told to Anupa Kurian, Readers Editor
More from UAE Health
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
