Food allergies as a public health problem

Alergije su jedan od najčešćih uzročnika mnogih zdravstvenih problema u ljudskoj populaciji, kako kod odraslih, tako i kod djece. Alergija se tumači kao reakcija organizma na neku njemu nepoznatu i inače neopasnu tvar iz neposredne okoline. Tvari koje izazivaju alergije nazivaju se alergeni i sve ih je više poznatih posljednjih godina. Organizam reagira na nepoznati alergen obrambenim mehanizmom koji stvara histamin, bjelančevinu kojom se bori protiv alergije. Alergije pogađaju jednu četvrtinu hrvatske populacije, dok je u Americi taj broj izražen u milijunima. Alergije na hranu manje su proširene – puno ljudi se žali kako imaju alergiju na hranu, no često se ona zamjenjuje sa intolerancijom na hranu. One mogu izazvati i više od puke nelagode i blažih simptoma poput hunjavice, svrbeža, kašlja i sl. Nekada alergijska reakcija može postati toliko snažna da izazove anafilaktički šok prilikom kojega može doći i do gušenja, kolapsa organizma i naposljetku do smrti. Veoma je važno na vrijeme primijetiti simptome alergije te početi koristiti terapiju koja će ublažiti simptome te olakšati život alergičara.Allergies are one of the most common causative agent most od the health problems in human population, by adults and by children. Allergy is interpreted as a reaction to some unknown and it normally harmless substance from the immediate surroundings. Substances that causes allergyes are called allergens and they are so more and more well known allergens in late years. The body responds to an unknown allergen defensive mechanism that produces histamine, a protein that fights allergies Allergies affects one quarter of Croatian population and in America, that number is expressed in milions. Food allergies are less enlarged - a lot of people complain that they have food allergies, but often it is replaced with a food intolerance They can cause more than just discomfort and gently symptomes like rhinitis, itching and coughing. Sometimes an allergy reaction can became so strong that cause anaphylaxis during which can come to choking, collapse of organism and death. It is very imortant on time notice the allergies and start to use theraphy to alleviate the symptoms of allergy and make life easier for those with allergies