An avocado allergy arises when a person's immune system mistakes this normally harmless food for a harmful substance. People who get allergic reactions after eating avocados may also suffer allergic reactions from ingesting cinnamon, a related plant.
Less than 2 percent of U.S. adults have food allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Avocados cause fewer than 10 percent of these cases. Although avocado allergies may be rare, they share the same allergy symptoms as adverse reactions to other foods.
Itching
During allergic reactions to avocados, histamines produced by the body enter the bloodstream and trigger itching allergy symptoms. Sensations of tingling or itching in the lip, mouth, throat or face may indicate a food allergy, according to the MayoClinic.com. Patients with avocado allergies may notice that these oral symptoms begin right away or within the hour. Itching also accompanies most cases of eczema.
Swelling
Swelling may arise next, as the inflammatory response to histamine kicks in. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that inflammation may progress from the lips, mouth and tongue to the face and eyelids, sometimes swelling the eyes shut in severe allergic reactions.
Eczema
As the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases points out, avocado allergens travel through the bloodstream, soon reaching the skin and creating allergy symptoms there. Patients may develop an eczema rash that is red, scaly and itchy anywhere on the body. Skin symptoms may also include hives, or patches of red welts that may be warm and painful to the touch.
Stomach Cramps
Patients may first become nauseous as gastrointestinal symptoms set in, the AAFA notes. When the avocado fruit reaches the stomach, patients may suffer from pain and cramping. Sudden bouts of vomiting signal the bodies' attempts to eject the substance that caused the allergic reactions.
Digestive Upset
As the intestines become affected by avocado allergies, pain and cramping may be accompanied by diarrhea. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases notes that the onset of these symptoms will take place at the rate of digestion.
Anaphylaxis
A more sudden set of symptoms affects the entire body in rare instances of avocado allergies. Anaphylaxis causes dangerous changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
The swelling of the airways induced by histamine levels simultaneously obstructs breathing, and patients are thrown into a state of medical emergency. The MayoClinic.com cites shortness of breath and fainting as symptoms that should prompt a 9-1-1 call for immediate paramedic treatment.
