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Physiology & Medicine / Why am I allergic to chicken and turkey?
« on: 08/12/2011 20:25:41 »
I too am allergic to turkey. I can eat chicken products without any problems. My mother found it hard to believe that there was such an allergy until she too developed a turkey allergy several years before she passed away. She also had no problems with eating chicken products. I developed the allergy in my middle 20's. I am now 50 and have learned to be very cautious when eating food prepared by anyone other than family. I eventually had to carry an epi-pen until it was discovered what my allergy was. I had several trips to the emergency room with severe hives (some were larger than my hand) & a quickly closing throat. I had to receive epinephrine shots each time..sometimes more than one shot. It was a very hard adjustment to not eating turkey, especially in a time when turkey seems to be added to everything. Doctors believe in our case it may be some genetic issue because not only did my mother also develop an allergy, but 4 of my grandchildren show a sensitivity to it. We have been told because of the family history of turkey allergy and their strong sensitivity to it, to treat them as if they were also allergic. So needless to say we don't eat turkey during the holidays