Fruit and vegetable allergies are relatively common and usually develop in adolescents and adults, according to Sydney Children's Hospital. They are rarer in younger children. You don't need to eat the fruit to have a reaction: you can develop hives, or urticaria, where it has touched your skin or mouth. Often associated with pollen allergies, symptoms can be worse during the pollen season.
Causes
If you're allergic, your body reacts to profilins, or proteins, found in the fruit. Your immune system produces Immunoglobulin E, an antibody and histamine. According to the Calgary Allergy Network, most of the allergens in fruit are near the skin, meaning you're likely to react after simply handling it. People often react to a number of fruits and vegetables which share similar proteins. These include the Rosaceae family, which contains apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries, and is linked to tree pollen allergy. The Cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumber, melon, watermelon and pumpkin, is linked to ragweed pollen allergy.
Symptoms
Fruit allergies are sometimes described as oral allergy syndrome, although symptoms can occur after handling or peeling fruit or touching the juice to your lips. They include a red, itchy rash, swelling or hives where the fruit touched your skin. You might also have more generalized hives on the rest of your body. You might also experience sneezing, a runny nose and watery eyes. Eating the fruits can cause an itchy, tingly mouth and throat, and occasionally nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. According to the World Allergy Organization, fruit can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction, although this is very rare. Symptoms include swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing and a weak, rapid pulse. This requires emergency medical treatment.
Tests And Diagnosis
If you suspect your symptoms were caused by handling fruit, talk to your doctor. Be prepared to describe your symptoms. Keep a food diary, noting any adverse reactions. You might be asked to take a skin or blood test. In a skin test, your skin is pricked, allowing a tiny amount of allergen below the surface. If you're allergic, a rash will develop. In a blood test, a sample is analyzed for the presence of antibodies, your body's reaction to an allergen.
Treatment
Your doctor might prescribe antihistamines or topical corticosteroid cream to relieve your skin rash and other symptoms. You can also buy these over the counter from drugstores. If your allergy is linked to hay fever, allergy shots might help. If you're at risk of anaphylaxis, your doctor might prescribe an epinephrine injector, which you inject into your thigh as soon as you experience severe symptoms. Carry this with you at all times, and make sure your family and friends know how to use it. After use, go directly to the emergency room.
Prevention
The best way to prevent symptoms is to avoid eating or handling raw fruits that cause a reaction. Most people are still able to eat cooked, processed or canned fruits, due to altering of the proteins. If you only have mild symptoms, you might be able to eat fruit that has already been peeled because most allergens are concentrated in the skin. Microwaving the fruit briefly to a temperature of 176 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit might also allow you to eat it. Fruit is an important part of a healthy diet, so make sure you eat plenty of other fruits and vegetables.
References
- Sydney Children’s Hospital: Fruit and Vegetable Allergy; 2011
- Allergy and Asthma Information Association: Oral Allergy Syndrome; June 2000
- MayoClinic.com: Food Allergy Causes; August 2011
- World Allergy Organization: Food Allergy; 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Food Allergy Tests And Diagnosis; August 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Allergy Medications: Know Your Options; June 2011
