Health department issues advisory on soybean dust allergy

Sindh Health Department on Wednesday issued advisory in connection with soybean dust allergy incidents at Keamari, directing all hospitals to take necessary steps, including training of staff, earmarking of case management and availability of supportive medicines.

The advisory said as per observations of experts and ICCBS report it was a form of severe allergy which caused severe asthma attack to people who come into direct contact with Soya dust. It caused severe anaphylactic shock and deaths in people who had been asthmatic.

It asked the managements of health facilities to take necessary steps including training of staff, earmarking of case management, availability of supportive medicines, etc.

Meanwhile, the Health Department has nominated Dr Syed Zafar Mehdi, a technical officer, as the focal person of the Health Department to deal with any query or to give an update on the Soya dust allergy. Allergy to soy, a product of soybeans, is a common food allergy. Often soy allergy starts in infancy with reaction to soy-based infant formula.

Although most children outgrow soy allergy, some carry the allergy into adulthood. It can cause Type-I allergy (IgE-mediated) symptoms from its ingestion, as well as from inhalation of its dust. The first series of asthma outbreaks due to inhalation of Sovbean dust occurred in Barcelona, Spain, from 1981 to 1987, due to handling of soybean in the city's harbour.

Symptoms:

For most people, soy allergy is uncomfortable but not serious. Rarely, however, an allergic reaction to soy can be frightening and even life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of a food allergy usually develop within a few minutes to hours after exposing to an allergen.

Mild signs and symptoms of soy allergy include hives or itching in and around the mouth. In rare cases, soy allergy can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Soy allergy symptoms can include tingling in the mouth, hives; itching; or itchy, scaly skin (eczema), swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other body parts, wheezing, a runny nose or breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, skin redness (flushing).

A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is rare with a soy allergy. It's more likely to occur in people who also have asthma or who are allergic to other food besides soy such as peanuts. Anaphylaxis causes more extreme signs and symptoms including difficulty in breathing caused by throat swelling, shock with a severe drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse dizziness, light-headedness or loss of consciousness, drooling and inability to swallow, full-body redness and warmth (flushing).

Diagnosis A doctor will ask about symptoms and may perform a physical exam and may also recommend one or both of skin tests and treatment.

Doctors may prick your skin and expose your skin to small amounts of the proteins found in soy. Someone who is allergic may develop a raised bump (hive) on the spot of the test on skin.

Allergy specialists usually are equipped to perform and interpret allergy skin tests.

Prevention guidelines Remove Soya dust source (eg ship of Soya present at a port, people who have asthma must wear masks, wash their hands, eyes and face with water).

In case of an allergy attack, rush towards the hospital for help immediately and drink plenty of water. Blood pressure may drop abruptly after a severe asthma attack. Hence, keep the blood pressure normal by drinking extra glasses of water and then rush to the hospital if one feels a headache, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc.