Rosaceae belong to a family of plants that include many of the fruits we usually drink, some especially present at this time of year, such as peach, apricot, plum, cherry, paraguayan or strawberries.
Although fruit allergy can occur during childhood, most often it is from adolescence, so it is important to know your symptoms in order to make an early diagnosis, because this type of allergy is one of the most common causes of food anaphylaxis.
One of the most frequent food allergies from adolescence
Rosacea fruit allergy is not among the most common food allergies in childhood. However yes It is common from adolescence, being responsible in our country for 70% of allergic reactions to fruits.
In addition, this type of allergy usually presents serious reactions, making it one of the main causes of anaphylaxis due to food allergy.
In Babies and more The late introduction of food into the baby's diet may predispose to develop food allergiesPeach, the rosacea fruit that causes more allergies
The peach is usually the fruit that most often causes allergy, and it is rare to find patients with allergic reactions to other rosacea without the peach not also being involved.
At first it was believed that peach allergy came from the fluff of your skin, but later it was observed that what really causes allergy is a type of protein (called LTP), which is also present in other fruits of the same family as apples, pears, cherries, apricots, plums, nectarines, strawberries or blackberries.
Cross Allergies to Other Foods
LTPs are proteins present in many plant foods, and although there are several types of LTPs, their chemical structure is very similar, so it can cause cross reactions in certain individuals.
In Babies and more Allergies in children: seven keys to help them live with themTherefore, it is common to find people with an allergy to rosacea fruits that also have allergic symptoms when eating some of the following foods:
Other fruits: pear, grape, lemon, orange, tangerine, banana, kiwi and pomegranate.
Nuts: nuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, chestnuts
Vegetables: peanuts, lentils, soybeans, beans, white beans.
Vegetables: tomato, lettuce, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, parsley and turnip
In addition, it is also common to be pollen-fruit syndrome, developing allergy to pollen of artemisia, ambrosia, olive, shade banana or parietaria.
What symptoms causes rosacea allergy
The allergic reaction to rosacea fruits appears virtually instantaneously after food intake. The most frequent are local reactions, which are characterized by any of the following symptoms:
- Itching in the area of the mouth, lips, tongue or even gargana.
- Redness of the lips and the area around the mouth.
- Appearance of hives or hives in some areas of the body.
There may also be gastrointestinal reactions (nausea, vomiting or diarrhea), respiratory symptoms (asthma, conjunctivitis or rhinitis) or oral angioedema, characterized by inflammation of the lips and tongue.
As with any other food allergy, Rosacea fruit allergy can also cause anaphylaxis and seriously compromise the patient's life. Therefore, an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to combat symptoms is important.
How is this allergy diagnosed?
If after eating this type of fruit your child has any of the symptoms described, you should not offer that fruit again without first consulting with the allergist.
The doctor will carefully assess the patient's history and proceed to perform the relevant tests for the diagnosis of the allergy. These tests consist of a prick test cutaneous, which is usually the most commonly used initial method, and a blood test to measure the specific IgE of the suspected food.
Only on some occasions (never in cases of anaphylaxis or severe reaction) could an oral exposure test or food challenge be indicated, with the aim of determining if the patient is only "sensitized" or really allergic.
My son is allergic to rosacea fruits, and now what?
If the allergy suspicions are finally confirmed, the doctor will give you the precise indications to avoid risks, will inform you of the possible cross reactions that we have mentioned above, and will prescribe the necessary medication that the child might need (especially in cases of allergy with severe symptoms).
In addition, it is important to mention that LTPs proteins are very resistant to heat, so in many cases cooking or processing the food does not eliminate the risk of allergy. In this sense, we have to be very careful with food labeling, paying special attention to products such as canned fruits, candied fruits, baby pots, chocolates, cakes and pastries, jellies, yogurts and ice cream.
In Babies and more Care with these products: they are not food but could cause reaction in allergic childrenIn regards to day to day, it is important that the child knows in detail what his allergy is and, among all, work to raise awareness of the closest environment. Likewise, the school must be knowledgeable about the child's allergy, and if your child is going to attend a camp this summer you should also inform the organizers.
Extreme precautions when eating out, looking for alternatives to food for birthdays and celebrations, and cooking carefully to avoid cross contamination, are other aspects that you should consider from now on .
Photos | iStock
More information | Alimmenta, The book of allergic diseases, AEPNAA
