Many of us will be sensitive to certain fruit, vegetable or nuts. We develop some allergic reactions either since birth or in between the stage of an adult.
Strawberry is a fruit which is also an attractive garnish that can be found in many dishes such as desserts, jams, ice creams, etc. It is also found in lotions, skin care products, air fresheners.
Strawberry leaves are used for making tea as well. While it is a good antioxidant and its potential to fight cancer, this fruit might not be acceptable for everyone’s health.
Let us look at the allergy caused due to strawberry and its after-effects.
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Why Does It Happen?
Fragaria Allergen 1, is the one that induces allergy among some people. This is generally present in red strawberries and is not present in white strawberries. [Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22913709 ]
The immune system of the people who are allergic will not recognize this allergen. In that case, the antibodies released by the immune system attack this allergen and releases histamine which causes inflammation.
Symptoms Of Allergy
Generally, allergy can occur when you eat, touch or smell the fruit. The symptoms can be external or internal. You will experience some uneasiness within a half hour or an hour after consuming the fruit.
This allergy can be classified into two types, oral allergies, and other allergies.
Since most of us face some symptoms after eating the fruit, oral allergies are common when compared to other allergies. Some of the symptoms in the oral allergy category are,
1)Burning sensation in and around the oral cavity.
2)Swelling of lips.
3)Itching sensation.
4)A sore throat.
5)Hives inside the cavity of the mouth.
Other than the allergies mentioned above, we have a skin based and other allergies as well.
1)Teary eyes.
2)Rashes on the skin.
3)Stuffy or running nose.
Dermatitis and Pruritus are commonly known types of skin rash. When the skin gets in direct contact with the fruit, these two situations arise. While Dermatitis is the occurrence of a cut or blisters with infection, Pruritus is the red and inflamed skin which will be itchy.
Apart from this, there are some rare incidents in which the allergy was severe and alarming. Some of those allergies are,
1)Gastro- intestinal problems.
2)Respiratory problems.
Stomach upset, diarrhea, cramps and abdominal pain are some examples of Gastro- intestinal issues.
While running nose and nasal congestion is a mild example of respiratory problems, wheezing, chest pain, a sudden drop in the blood pressure, fainting is the severe examples of respiratory problems.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe type of respiratory issue. It might become fatal if not checked properly. Epinephrine (commonly known as EpiPen) is injected in such cases. An immediate visit to the doctor is advised if a person faces such a situation.
Check With The Tests
Before getting yourself vulnerable to an allergy, it is better to check whether strawberry suits your health or not. A procedure known as ‘Scratch test’ can be done to determine whether you are allergic or not. Some small substance of strawberry will be applied on your skin. If that area develops some rashes or itching sensation within 30 minutes of the application, then your allergy will be confirmed.
Treatment And Precautionary For Strawberry Allergy
1)It is always good to be alert about what is happening inside your body. If you feel uneasy, it is better to consult a doctor at once. It is also advised not to give strawberry based foods to kids below 2 years since they might not be able to explain if any medical condition arises.
2)The best way not to suffer from this allergy is to avoid food that contains strawberry in any levels. Before you buy any product, check if there is any amount of strawberry present in it. If so, avoid the product to the maximum.
3)No matter where you go, have an emergency kit with you always. Make sure that it contains some anti- histamine tablets (for controlling allergy) and hydrocortisone creams (to control external inflammation) in it. These medicines will help in controlling the swelling and inflammation.
4)If you really cannot control your temptation towards strawberry, there are many artificial strawberry flavored products available in the market. These products will not have exact strawberry contents in it. Hence, the allergen will also be missing. These products can be used.
5)Many of the farmers have started to cultivate white strawberries as an alternative to the red ones. This is done since the allergen is found only in red berries and not in the white ones.
6)Researchers have found that people suffering from Birch pollen allergy are likely to suffer from strawberry allergy as well. In case if you have Birch pollen allergy, never go by the side of strawberries.
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