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09/02/2010 15:52:29

The Naked Scientists Forum | Life Sciences | Physiology & Medicine | Why am I allergic to chicken and turkey?

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Why am I allergic to chicken and turkey?

ShokLaRok

Newbie

Posts: 2

Link to this post 55587
27/10/2006 08:20:12 »

I am bewildered as to why I am allergic to chicken and turkey. I once ate it normally. Ever since puberty I have had this problem. I know within seconds if it is poultry and will fight horrible pain, vomiting, and anaphylactic (sic) shock for several hours. I ate it once after it was boiled then BBQ'd. Help me understand my "Chicken Affliction."

Sincerely,
Mike Picano


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Gaia

Sr. Member

Posts: 397

Link to this post 55620
27/10/2006 12:07:47 »

Firstly are you sure it is an allergy and not a food sensitivity/or intollerance, especially as you only developed it late? Do you really go into anaphylactic shock? Do your throat and face swell and block your airways? Do you need an adrenaline injection in order not to die? Has this been medially diagnosed? If not, you need to go and see your doctor.

It is not unknown to be allergic to meat. My sister-in-law is allergic to red (ie mammal) meat but is okay with poultry and fish.


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ROBERT

Guest

Link to this post 55655
27/10/2006 15:42:40 »

Quote from: ShokLaRok on 27/10/2006 08:20:12

I am bewildered as to why I am allergic to chicken and turkey. I once ate it normally. Ever since puberty I have had this problem.

There is a gland which produces immune cells called the Thymus.
In most people the Thymus atrophies after puberty, in in a minority of people this does not occur:
the Thymus persists, which can produce immune disorders (e.g. severe allergic responses).

" Thymus continues to grow until the time of puberty and then begins to atrophy. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus


« Last Edit: 27/10/2006 15:56:11 by ROBERT »	Logged

ShokLaRok

Newbie

Posts: 2

Link to this post 55679
27/10/2006 17:54:09 »

Thank you for the insight. To answer one question: Within minutes of me eating chicken and turkey, my mouth begins to stream saliva (so steadily that I can lean over and it will hit the floor), my throat then begins to rapidly close up. The small airway that I do have is then clogged by the saliva stream and the rest is history. I go into a panic attack thinking that I will suffocate. I have blacked out before, but I usually wrap myself around the toilet bowl and get sick for hours. I will take a Benedryl (seems to help a little) and I have found that chasing cigarettes one after the other opens up some airways for me (why? I have no idea). It feels, for hours, as though someone is taking a giant corkscrew and twisting it into my chest. No fun for me.

I do consider it a burden for people to have to be reminded that I am allergic when they make dinner. But, I'm used to it now , but would love to be able to eat poultry at some point in my life.

Should I just give up hope. Anyone want a "thymus"? It's free!

Thanks,
Mike


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neilep

Withdrawnmist
Too Much Free Time Level Member

Posts: 19642
I'm right there...inside your head !

Link to this post 55682
27/10/2006 18:07:47 »

Shoklarok,

I am so sorry to hear of this.

As a poultry lover I can imagine it being so frustrating.

What about things like chicken soup ? gravy ?...chicken falvourings (based on the real thing)...do you still have the same reaction ?

...and NO...do not give up...as there may be a solution out there for you.


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ROBERT

Guest

Link to this post 55805
28/10/2006 09:19:58 »

If you are having an anaphylactic reaction to foodstuff then you should ask your doctor about an adrenaline pen:-
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~aair/anaphylaxis.htm#SEC4

As Neilep pointed out you could ingest this allergen accidentally, (e.g. some sausages labelled as pork or beef have some chicken in them). So you should have an adrenaline pen at hand, as it could prevent asphyxia.

PS
a Thymectomy would probably not affect your allergic response: the T-cells produced by the Thymus will now be circulating throughout your body, i.e. removing the Thymus would be shutting the stable door after the T-cells have bolted.

PPS
I found this PubMed article which may be of interest:-
" Food allergy with monovalent sensitivity to poultry meat.
Cahen YD, Fritsch R, Wuthrich B.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Allergy to poultry meat is only rarely covered in science. The few reports are usually related to patients allergic to eggs or bird feathers. OBJECTIVE: Two patients with a clear history of monovalent, ingestive allergy to chicken and turkey meat, without other food allergies, were analysed..."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9756209&dopt=Abstract


« Last Edit: 28/10/2006 09:40:05 by ROBERT »	Logged

ROBERT

Guest

Link to this post 56174
30/10/2006 14:43:32 »

" Here is a recipe for a school sausage, given to us by a manufacturer who prefers to remain anonymous. It is for what he described as a "pork product" made "down to a price" to win a local authority contract. The sausage contents: 50% "meat", of which 30% is pork fat with a bit of jowl, and 20% mechanically recovered chicken meat, 17% water, 30% rusk and soya, soya concentrate, hydrolysed protein, modified flour, dried onion, sugar, dextrose, phosphates, preservative E221 sodium sulphite, flavour enhancer, spices, garlic flavouring, antioxidant E300 (ascorbic acid), colouring E128 (red 2G). Casings: made from collagen from cow hide. "
http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/focus/story/0,13296,951917,00.html#article_continue
dead

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=4273.0


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Jason2573

Newbie

Posts: 1

Link to this post 277906
02/10/2009 19:07:52 »

I know this topic is a bit out-dated, but hopefully it can be re-opened with some new insight? I have very similar reaction to poultry/poultry flavorings as ShokLaRok. Yet I am able to eat eggs. The salivating, the throat feeling like its swelling, feeling the stabbing/burning sensation down the esophagus and the sudden urge to want to throw up to end it all. I am 23 years old and i developed this at 21 years of age. I ate chicken QUITE regularly and never had any issues. Suddenly for my 21st birthday I am not allowed to enjoy my Chicken Marsala? Not particularly fair, but i needed to learn to cope. I have spent all this time wondering if it was going to go away, but to no avail. Has there yet been any recent developments in this particular area anyone knows of? I havent tried anything to treat it, and dont feel i need an epi-pen for the severity of the reaction, but before finally becoming frustrated enough to go talk to a doctor about it, i figured i would check the Web.


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glovesforfoxes

Sr. Member

Posts: 365

Matthew 6:21

Link to this post 277954
03/10/2009 07:29:58 »

Quote from: Jason

Not particularly fair, but i needed to learn to cope.

the chickens would disagree. wink


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