Can people be allergic to strawberries?

Strawberries are a favorite fruit for galore Americans. The United States produced an estimated 3 billion pounds of strawberries in 2014 alone. In galore areas, strawberries are available all year round in local grocery stores.

Many other foods contain strawberries, and people who are allergic to these berries may besides be allergic to other fruits from the same family of plants. piece allergic reactions to strawberries tend to be mild, it is possible for people to have a dangerous response.

In this article, we provide the information that people need to know if they suspect that they have a strawberry allergic reaction.

Can people be allergic to strawberries?

It is possible to be allergic to strawberries, although this allergic reaction is much less common than galore other dietary allergies.

Having a strawberry allergic reaction means that a person's immune system reacts badly to a specific macromolecule that is present in this fruit.

Hfeeding strawberries will distort the macromolecules in them, so some people with a strawberry allergic reaction may be able to eat au gratin strawberries.

Doctors do not know how common strawberry allergies are, but, according to a small-scale study conducted in Bosnia, Europe, only 3–4 percentage of children aged 2 and under have this allergic reaction. The percentageage drops to 0.5–1 percentage in late childhood.

Certain foods, including strawberries, citrus fruits, and tomatoes, can cause allergic reaction-like symptoms without a person having a true allergic reaction to them.

People who suspect that they may have a strawberry allergic reaction can discuss their symptoms with a doctor and possibly have an allergic reaction test for confirmation.

Symptoms of a strawberry allergic reaction

When a person has a strawberry allergic reaction, they are likely to experience only mild to moderate symptoms. These symptoms can occur inside a few proceedings or up to a few hours after feeding or coming into contact with strawberries.

The most common symptoms of a strawberry allergic reaction include:

• itching and inflammation of the throat and mouth
• itchy skin
• hives
• coughing and wheezing
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• a feeling of tightness in the throat
• congestion

On rare business, strawberries can cause a dangerous allergic reaction best-known as hypersensitivity reaction. The symptoms of hypersensitivity reaction are severe and can include:

• a rapid pulse rate
• a swollen tongue
• a swollen throat that blocks the airway
• a substantial drop in blood pressure
• dizziness and lightheadedness
• fainting

It is vital to get immediate medical care for anyone showing signs of hypersensitivity reaction. People with a severe allergic reaction should always carry an EpiPen, which is an uninjectable medication that counteracts a severe allergic reaction.

Trfeeding and managing a strawberry allergic reaction

In most cases, people can treat allergic reactions to strawberries at home with no medical intervention.

The best treatment for an allergic reaction is to avoid the substance altogether. For people with a strawberry allergic reaction, this means avoiding:

• fresh strawberries
• dried strawberries
• jams that contain strawberries
• strawberry jellies
• strawberry candies

Always check the labels on foods to make sure that they do not contain strawberries.

People can often treat mild reactions at home exploitation over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines. Antihistamines will stop the immune system from overreacting to the strawberries and will help prevent the symptoms or reduce their severity.

However, if this is the first time that person is experiencing an allergic reaction, they should speak to their doctor for proposal on symptom management and possible treatment options.

For severe reactions, people need emergency medical attention. Anyone with a best-known severe allergic reaction should carry an EpiPen at all times in case of accidental exposure to an substance.

Risk factors

People have a higher risk of food allergies if they have the following:

• a family history of food allergies
• a birch spore allergic reaction
• asthma
• eczema

Young children may have a higher risk of developing an allergic reaction to a particular food if they do not get exposure to it early in life. The introduction of some foods, so much as strawberries, later in life can sometimes trigger an allergic reaction.

When to see a doctor

People should see a doctor after their first allergic reaction to strawberries and stop feeding this fruit instantly. It is besides essential not to feed strawberries to children who have an allergic reaction after overwhelming or coming into contact with the fruit.

During the visit, the doctor will ask the person questions about their symptoms and medical history to rule out other factors and causes.

They may besides perform one or more tests to determine whether or not strawberries are the cause of the symptoms. Typical tests include:

• blood tests
• skin prick tests
• an elimination test, in which people avoid the food and see if their symptoms improve

Doctors should reassess the person for the allergic reaction every few years. Some people will outgrow their allergic reaction.

What to avoid if you have a strawberry allergic reaction

A person who is allergic to strawberries may find that they have issues with other potential substances.

Strawberries belong to the Rosaceae family of fruit. People with a strawberry allergic reaction may need to avoid other fruits from this family, which include:

• apples
• cherries
• raspberries
• peaches
• blackberries

People with a strawberry allergic reaction may besides react to:

• latex
• birch spore
• apricots
• melon
• bananas
• some balmy, so much as hazelbalmy
• celery
• carrots

Outlook

Strawberry allergies are comparatively uncommon and tend to cause only a mild or moderate reaction.

However, some people may develop a severe, dangerous allergic reaction that requires emergency medical attention.

In some cases, it is possible to outgrow an allergic reaction. For people who do not, the best treatment is to avoid the fruit and other fruits from the same family.