Just like with other food allergies, raw almond allergy is triggered by an immune reaction against a particular protein present in the food. Even though almonds seem to cause the least issues of all the tree nuts, an individual might end up with an allergy as a reaction to the proteins present in the nut.
Raw almond allergy can advance if the individual ate the nut and the immune system wrongly identifies the proteins as a threat. If the individual eats almonds again, the body rapidly perceives the proteins and initiates an allergic reaction against it.
What happens during an immune reaction?
The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against foreign particles such as viruses, bacteria and toxins. Once the body is exposed to these harmful particles, the immune system works to eliminate these invaders by engulfing them with white blood cells and eliminating them with the antibodies.
As a reaction to the immune reaction, the body produces molecules that trigger inflammation to clear up the invading particles. Even though most immune reactions are instigated as a response to harmful molecules, the immune system can wrongly identify a harmless molecule such as protein as a threat.
Antibodies
Antibodies are highly effective mediators of immunity that perceives a specific molecule. The body can produce specific antibodies against the foreign molecule. Once produced, the antibodies attach to the molecule and eliminate the particle with the help of the white blood cells or immune molecules.
It is important to note that there are 5 classes of antibodies or immunoglobulins that have various actions. The common type is the IgG which is produced as a response to microbial infections. The IgE is produced during allergies and as a reaction to parasitic infections.
Role of IgE
The IgE antibody is different from the other antibody classes based on its ability to activate certain white blood cells including basophils, mast cells and eosinophils. Take note that IgE does not instigate an allergy but the activation of the mast cells as well as the generation of the immune mediators initiate an allergic response.
In case the body wrongly identifies the almond protein as a threat, it produces the specific IgE antibody. The IgE attaches to the protein and triggers the activation of the mast cells. The mast cells start to release molecules that cause inflammation and the allergy symptoms.
Role of histamine
One of the mediators mast cells release histamine which is a vasoactive molecule that promote the flow of blood, smooth muscle contraction as well as permeability of the vascular membranes. Once the individual eats almonds, the throat can swell and become inflamed within seconds due to the histamine in the tissues that surround the throat and mouth.
As for severe cases, the mast cell activation can result to systematic anaphylaxis that triggers widespread vascular permeability which leads to an abrupt drop in the blood pressure, difficulty breathing and airway constriction. Remember that this condition requires immediate treatment using an epinephrine injection.