Patriot Health Digest
Peanut butter could either help treat diarrhea or cause it. The Cleveland Clinic suggests that low-fiber food such as peanut butter may help control diarrhea without medicine. However, if your child suffers from a peanut allergy, he or she might develop diarrhea shortly after eating peanut butter. In this event, life threatening side effects might occur; in which case you should consult a physician if you suspect your child is having an allergic reaction to peanuts.
Treating Diarrhea
Drink plenty of fluids. Choose water, smooth fruit juice, sports drinks and soda. Try to stay away from drinks with alcohol and caffeine. Instead of drinking with meals, Cleveland Clinic suggests drinking fluids in-between meals. In addition to peanut butter, you should stick to low-fiber foods such as rice, yogurt, noodles, grape juice, white bread, bananas, applesauce, turkey or chicken without the fish, skin, ground beef, cream cheese and cottage cheese.
Peanut Allergies
Peanuts are among most common foods that can cause an allergic reaction. Peanut allergy happens when your immune system mistakes the proteins in peanuts as something dangerous to the body. The immune system releases antibodies or chemicals to fight the proteins, which causes the symptoms of the allergy. So much as eating, touching, or inhaling trace amounts of peanuts might cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms
Peanut allergy symptoms usually occur immediately, taking place within minutes of first contact. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe allergic reactions. Peanut allergy symptoms consist of skin reactions such as swelling, hives or redness, as well as swelling and itching in or around the throat and mouth, digestive problems such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, tightening of the chest and nausea, shortness of breath and a blocked or runny nose.
Treatments of Peanut Allergy
The best defense is staying away from peanuts and foods with traces of peanut; however, this might be difficult. Antihistamines might help relieve some of the symptoms such as hives or itchiness. AÂ severe reaction requires an immediate injection of epinephrine might help reverse symptoms. An EpiPen is the device used to inject the medicine; it’s available under prescription only. MayoClinic.com advises you carry it and keep it close to you at all times and also learn when and how to use it from your doctor.
Author: Blake Ambrose
