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
