Celery root is one of the most common causes of food allergies in pollen-sensitive individuals. As well as celery, carrot, coriander, dill, and parsley are all members of the Umbelliferae family. All over the world, this plant is called Apiumgraveolans.
Pollen and harmless food proteins may look similar to one another, causing your immune system to get confused. A reaction to the latter is triggered when the immune system perceives it as a threat, and releases immunoglobulin E (IgE), resulting in an allergic reaction. In this process, certain chemicals are released, such as histamine, which causes skin reddening, swelling, itching, and rhinitis.
There is a possibility that the reaction will be localized, as if it would affect only your skin, mouth, or throat. It can also set off a generalized reaction in which enormous amounts of histamine and other chemicals are released into the blood, resulting in systemic collapse and a wide range of other symptoms.
Celery allergy symptoms
Photosensitivity can be caused by celery in allergic individuals, resulting in blistering of the skin after just a little sun exposure. People who work in food stores, pickers, and canners tend to experience this reaction most frequently.
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Affected celery plants tend to become more photosensitizing when they are infected with pink rot. It has even been reported that some people have developed severe sunburns after consuming celery soup.
There has been an increase in allergies to celery in sensitive individuals. Celery may cause allergic contact dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, asthma, and anaphylaxis in such individuals.
Anaphylactic reactions have also been reported to occur after consuming celery root, celery oil, and celery stem.
Other vegetables, along with mugwort and birch pollen, were also observed to be involved in the co-existence of allergic reactions. In the tuber root, only a small amount of allergens is destroyed during the heating process, because the allergens are formed there.
It has been found that raw celery consumption is associated with a higher prevalence of celery allergies. There is also a connection between it and pollen allergies. An allergy may cause mild symptoms in the mouth or systemic reactions in the body.
The antigens in celery are resistant to heat and processing, which is why individuals with such sensitivities should avoid all celery products, such as soups, broths, and salad dressings. Therefore, celery-containing products should be labeled to ensure that people with celery allergies are not adversely affected.
Celery Allergy Diagnosis and Treatment
A celery allergy can be diagnosed by the presence of allergic symptoms after eating celery. Testing of skin pricks (SPTs) with crude celery, celery extracts, and pollen extracts can confirm this. As a result of the CAP method, we can determine the specific IgE for celery sensitivity.
According to the specific symptoms and signs, treatment involves avoiding celery intake all together, taking antihistamines and topical steroids, using eye drops, or taking asthma medications.
The use of oral corticosteroids may be necessary for a short period of time in order to reverse allergic reactions. If the allergies are severe and desensitization is not an option, then desensitization is another option.
Individuals with food allergies who have previously developed anaphylaxis should administer epinephrine on their own as a first-line treatment. In such cases, epinephrine alone is not enough for patients to survive. They need immediate hospitalization.
