Whey is formed when curd is separated from the milk or cream. It makes up 20% of the proteins found in milk. It is also a by-product of cheese making. Actually, whey is the remaining liquid after the cheese curd is formed. It is thin and watery, sometimes bluish in color.
Whey allergy is the body’s reaction to the chemicals of whey. The mechanism starts at the immune system. The immune system sees the whey protein as a virus or bacteria. It starts reactionary measures to defend the body against the intruder. A sufferer, the person with the reaction, can experience the symptoms moments after the ingestion or several hours later. In this article we give all possible symptoms of whey allergy.
Digestive symptoms: Similar to lactose intolerance, whey allergy sufferers experience several symptoms in the digestive system such as:
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Vomiting
- Cramps
- Nausea
Respiratory Symptoms: Whey allergy also manifests in the respiratory system as
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Asthma attack (which can be triggered if the asthmatic patient is allergic)
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes
Skin system (Integumentary) symptoms: The skin is affected severely due to whey allergy. The condition and the appearance of the skin is affected. Whey allergy may lead to:
- Itchy rash or hives
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Swellings of the skin in facial areas, tongue, throat and mouth
Extreme Symptoms: In extreme conditions, the body systems become overloaded with the reactions of the allergy. Some of the symptoms include:
- Swelling inside throat
- Swelling inside mouth
- Obstructions in airways
- Cardiovascular manifestations like increase in blood pressure
- Dizziness and fainting
- It can be even fatal
Severe Symptoms of Whey Allergy
In severe cases, the chemical from the whey allergy overloads the body systems. This causes a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. The symptoms include swelling inside the throat, mouth and airways, preventing air from entering the lungs.
In this case, an emergency drug like ephinephrine needs to be administered or the patient may die. Anaphylaxis also affects the cardiovascular system. The blood pressure increases greatly leading to dizziness and even fainting. Again, emergency drugs need to be given quickly to avoid fatality.
