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Strawberry allergy: Symptoms and foods to avoid
There are many people who love strawberries because they are delicious berries. Those who have strawberry allergies, however, may suffer from rash symptoms or even anaphylaxis if they consume this fruit. To prevent an allergic reaction, you should also avoid similar fruits if you are allergic to strawberries.
Strawberry allergy symptoms
Symptoms of strawberry allergy typically appear within minutes to two hours after eating strawberries. Itchy mouth, rash, itchy skin, wheezing, coughing, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, tightness in the throat are some of the most common symptoms.
If you have mild or moderate allergies, you can treat them with antihistamines. Allergic symptoms can be relieved with these over-the-counter medications. People with severe allergic reactions, however, don’t benefit much from over-the-counter medications.
Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, is caused by a severe allergy to strawberries. There are many symptoms associated with anaphylaxis, which require immediate medical attention. An allergic reaction can lead to swelling of the tongue, airway obstruction or swelling in the throat, dizziness, loss of consciousness, severe drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse, and dizziness.
As a result of anaphylaxis, epinephrine is injected with an EpiPen (autoinjector). An EpiPen is necessary for people who suffer from severe allergies.
Causes of Strawberry Allergy
If you have an allergy to strawberries, you have an allergy to the food. In children under three years of age, food allergies occur in 6-8 % of cases, while in adults, they occur in 9% of cases.
Whenever you eat or come into contact with a food that you are allergic to, your immune system reacts. A food is mistakenly identified as harmful by the immune system (such as bacteria or viruses). A chemical called histamine is released into the bloodstream in response to this. In addition to mild to severe symptoms, histamine can contribute to the development of allergic reactions.
Food allergies are different from food intolerances:
The symptoms of a food intolerance are similar to those of an allergic reaction, but they do not result in an allergic reaction. It is possible to develop food intolerances due to a variety of factors, such as food poisoning or lacking a digestive enzyme. An individual may have a food allergy or intolerance based on the results of a food allergy test.
Food allergies, especially strawberry allergies, are more likely to occur in families with allergies, eczema or asthma. The likelihood of you having allergies does not depend on whether you come from a family that has allergies. When an infant has not yet been introduced to solid foods at the age of 7.5 months, the risk of food allergy may be increased. It is therefore advisable to start feeding your baby solid foods between the ages of 5.5 and 7 months. You should also eliminate strawberries from your child’s diet if he or she develops allergy symptoms after eating them.
What foods should people with a strawberry allergy avoid?
Strawberries belong to the rose family. Other fruits in this family include: pears, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, and blackberries. If you are allergic to a fruit in this family, you may also be allergic to strawberries.
Some people have allergic cross-reactivity with symptoms including itchy mouth, itchy throat, swelling inside the mouth and throat. This allergic reaction is related to pollen allergy. Strawberries and other fruits in the rose family have been linked to birch allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
People who eat strawberries with allergies should avoid eating this fruit and also foods containing strawberries, including in the form of flavoring or strawberry decoration on cakes (even if you only eat cake, do not eat strawberries) ,… At the same time, you can also have a food allergy to fruits related to strawberries such as peaches, apples or blackberries.
When should you see a doctor?
If you suspect you have a food allergy, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will discuss your allergy symptoms and family history with you. They may also suggest that you do some food allergy testing including: Skin testing, elimination diet (eliminating suspected foods), blood tests, food tasting (Determine if you have an allergy to this food.
Alternative food options
Avoiding strawberries doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy other fruits. However, you need to be careful to avoid fruits related to strawberries to not experience an allergic reaction. You can eat bananas, blueberries, and melons instead, as they’re not in the rose family.
If you can’t eat a variety of fruits and vegetables because of allergies, you should consult your doctor to see if you should take additional vitamins and minerals needed by the body. Several recent studies are looking at the breeding of hypoallergenic strawberries. Many studies show that strawberry varieties without the red color can reduce allergic reactions. Perhaps, one day, you will be able to eat strawberries even if you are allergic to this fruit.
You can completely avoid strawberry allergy symptoms if you avoid strawberries and other allergenic foods. Because strawberries are used to flavor many foods, it’s important to double-check a food’s ingredient label before eating it. At the same time, when you go out to eat, you should talk to the restaurant’s wait staff to make sure your dish does not contain strawberry ingredients.
