allergic to alcohol

[tamirra]

Hi, is there such thing as being allergic to alcohol especially wine, my daughter was very very ill 2 years ago with an undiagnosed illness, her immune system was shot to pieces and we had to result in the itu giving iv steroids to save her, since then when ever she drinks mainly wine she gets a rash on her arms, they go very red and blotchy and the skin around her mouth gets very sore and chapped, why would this be, it happens even if shes just had a sip of wine and nothing else, any help please. Thanks.

[showcatbenga]

Yes it sounds like an allergic reaction but it could be to any of the many compounds found in wine (or possibly cork!) As wine doesn't traditionally fall into any of the 'essential' food groups I think she would be best to avoid it. Does she react to wine cooked with food? Or grapes?

[tamirra]

No actually she dosnt only to drinking it, and it happens immediatly after drinking it.

[Androcles]

There are a number of arguments about what can cause problems from drinking wine, for example some say it could be to Sulphur dioxide which is the preservative often used in wine and on its own is quite nasty stuff - usually put in as sodium metabisulphite or Campden tablets, others argue it can be the finings used.... see http://homewinery.info/blog/?p=108 for a discussion on some of the suspects - as you will see not everybody agrees as usual, but if she is suffering the answer may well be in here!