Avocado allergy: symptoms and treatments for a rare ailment
Content:
The manifestation of an allergic reaction to avocado is an infrequent phenomenon. Currently, this imported product has become quite popular among the population. And yet, there are cases of unpleasant symptoms such as avocado allergy in adults, as well as in children.
Could there be an avocado allergy?
An allergic reaction is a manifestation of symptoms caused by the body's reaction to various substances. Allergies can manifest themselves with the use of various foods. In our country, the rate of people susceptible to allergies is within thirty percent. Research by scientists has shown that about ten percent of the population suffers from avocado food allergies.
Avocados cannot be classified as severe allergens. If you correctly diagnose the signs of avocado allergy from the very beginning, it will be possible to avoid complications.
Why Avocado Allergies Occur
The composition of the avocado is the cause of the allergic reaction. The fruit is rich in protein. Glycoproteins become the causative agent of an allergic reaction, the body does not absorb the avocado ingredients, and symptoms appear. Heat treatment of the fruit breaks down the protein and allows it to be eaten safely.
But not only protein content can provoke allergies. In order to keep the fruits of an exotic fruit ripe for a long time during transportation, they are subjected to special processing. For this process, a specialized gas is used - ethylene. This method of processing provokes the production of the enzyme chitinase, which causes a strong allergic reaction in humans.
There is a concept of cross-allergy, this is when the body responds with a reaction to the use of a certain group of products containing the same allergenic substance. For example, a person who is allergic to other exotic fruits is more likely to exhibit avocado allergy symptoms.
One of the main causes of avocado allergy is genetic predisposition. After conducting research, scientists have confirmed that in the case when one of the parents has manifestations of an allergic reaction, then there is a high probability that the child will also have symptoms of the disease. Since avocados are not introduced into the child's diet from an early age, allergies cannot be detected at this stage. But if a person is susceptible to the disease, symptoms will appear at the first contact with him.
Avocado allergy: symptoms
The symptoms of all food allergic reactions are generally similar. Sometimes symptoms appear at the time of using the product, but it is possible for a couple of hours after that. There are cases when the body's response to the avocado was manifested on the second or third day after consumption. The following symptoms are distinguished:
- itching in the mouth and throat
- dryness in the larynx
- itching and redness of the skin
- cough
If you do not respond to these minor symptoms, they can be complicated by the following signs: rashes on the skin, vomiting and loose stools, pain and dryness in the eyes, swelling
It is worth noting that an allergic reaction that manifests itself instantly is usually expressed in sharp, obvious symptoms.
Symptoms of avocado allergy are expressed in the same way in adults and children. Children quickly react to discomfort, start crying.Itchy skin causes damage in certain areas. We recommend that you urgently see a doctor.
Severe avocado allergy symptoms manifest as severe swelling on the lips and around the mouth. If you do not take action, the edema will spread to the upper half of the face, affecting the eyes and respiratory system. This situation is dangerous with the onset of Quincke's edema, in which a person has difficulty breathing.
Be sure to consult a doctor in case of edema.
Diagnostics
After a visit to the allergist, the patient is prescribed a laboratory test. Often the symptoms of the disease appear with a delay and are difficult to recognize on their own. For diagnosis, it is necessary to donate blood from a vein. The patient is advised not to expose the body to heavy loads for several days for the accuracy of the study. This method is safe and can be used with young children.
Another diagnostic method is the enzyme immunoassay. Thus, the presence of special antibodies is determined in a person. Such an analysis makes it possible to find out the cause of an allergic reaction and establish a list of substances that provoke it.
Avocado allergy treatment options
Unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of avocado allergies. But in the case of undergoing a specialized course of drug treatment, you can get rid of the severe symptoms of the disease.
A nutritionist makes a diet for a person, excluding all allergenic products from it. The patient stops eating avocados and other fruits that can trigger allergies.
When treating a disease, the patient's diet should contain foods such as meat, cereals, vegetable products that do not cause an allergic reaction.
Taking antihistamines, as a rule, is aimed at removing the first signs of an avocado allergy: swelling, rashes.
In the complex, you can use some folk remedies. So, for example, a bath of a decoction of chamomile and string will help relieve swelling and reduce redness.
Is it allowed to eat if a reaction occurs.
If a person develops symptoms of avocado allergy, it is worth stopping eating it. If you do not exclude avocados from the diet, symptoms of the manifestation of the disease can worsen and lead to complications.
If the human body is allergic to avocado, shows a reaction to other fruits, such as kiwi, bananas, it is worth excluding their use.
Preventive measures
If there is a reaction to the use of avocado, you should completely exclude this product from your diet. Be careful, as this fruit is included in many dishes. Study the composition of not only food products, but also cosmetics, as avocado extract is often used in such products.
In the presence of allergic diseases, it is recommended to maintain immunity:
- warm up
- breathing exercises
- take a cool shower
- to refuse from bad habits
Do not add avocados to the diet of young children. An exotic fruit is an unfamiliar product and can trigger avocado allergies, and the disease will remain for life.
It is important to recognize and correctly diagnose avocado food allergies. Diet and disease prevention will help get rid of severe symptoms and unpleasant complications.