Allergy to bananas: symptoms, treatment

It's hard to find someone who does not like bananas. Nutritionists say that these fruits contain all the necessary nutrients for the body and besides can eliminate hunger for a long time. Despite all the advantages, there is one significant drawback - allergy to bananas. A negative reaction after eating bananas is actually extremely rare. These fruits are classified as an average allergenic product category. Sometimes such a reaction of the body becomes crossed and goes to other fruits.

Why does an allergy occur?

In recent years, bananas have become an indispensable product for many families. Sweet tropical fruit is loved not only by children, but also by adults. Pediatricians even recommend injecting it (in a small amount) as a complementary meal to babies of the first year of life. But not everyone knows the fact that bananas can provoke an allergic reaction. According to statistics, from 0.2 to 1.2% of the population suffer from such ailment.

One of the reasons for the development of a similar situation experts call excess serotonin, which is contained in bananas in large quantities. Therefore, this reaction is called pseudoallergic, indicating an excess of the "hormone of happiness" in the blood. If for a while to exclude fruits enriched with serotonin from the diet, the level of the substance in the body will be normalized, and allergy symptoms will pass.

A real (true) allergy to bananas is very rare. Such an immune response is associated with intolerance to certain substances that contain tropical fruits.

Most often, the same allergy is provoked not by the bananas themselves, but by the chemicals used to treat them during transportation and storage. Especially at risk of a pathological condition of children of younger age.

Symptoms of allergies

Can there be an allergy to a banana and how is it manifested? Like any other food allergy, the negative reaction of the immune system to the use of these delicious fruits develops for some time. Determine the disease can be on the following symptoms:

• The appearance of red spots on the skin;
• Itching of the skin;
• Swelling of mucous membranes (larynx, oral cavity);
• nausea, vomiting;
• Indigestion (diarrhea);
• abdominal pain;
• sore throat;
• An allergic cough ;
• Lowering blood pressure;
• dizziness;
• Loss of consciousness (rarely).

The temperature for allergies often occurs just against the background of food intolerance to certain foods. A similar symptom is common in children.

The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. With a slow pulse, dizziness, the patient needs to call an ambulance as soon as possible.

Allergy to bananas in children

The organism of a young child is extremely vulnerable to allergens. Immature immune system is not yet able to "distinguish" safe and harmful substances and therefore negatively reacts to all new products that the child is trying. Despite the fact that pediatricians recommend giving a baby banana (in 8-9 months), this fruit can not be called completely safe. In some cases, such a treat may not "like" the immune system. Learn about this, parents can on allergic rash in the form of pryshchikov on the cheeks, tummy and buttocks of the child.

In children of middle age, the allergic reaction to a tropical fruit is also considered rare. Most often this condition is associated with excessive consumption of bananas. In this case, not only skin reactions appear, but also disorders in the digestive tract. Some parents note that children have fever with allergies caused by a food product. Doctors recommend to give the child an antihistamine drug for ease of symptoms and at the same time to exclude bananas from the diet.

Diagnostics

Every year, an increasing number of people suffer from allergies. This illness can be congenital (transmitted from the parents) or acquired. Clinic of allergology is the first place to go for suspicion of ailment. Experienced, qualified specialists (allergists) will assign the necessary tests that will help establish the true cause of the allergic reaction.

The examination of the patient begins with the collection of anamnesis, in which cases of a similar reaction of the organism will be recorded. The allergist doctor is interested in the working and living conditions of the patient, the presence of allergic diseases in close relatives. After the initial treatment, experts recommend that patients maintain a special food diary, where they should write down information about foods eaten per day and the body's response. So it will be easier to identify the allergen. A more detailed picture of the course of the pathological condition can be obtained after the examination.

Types of tests for allergies

If the patient suspects that he has an allergy to bananas, it is first of all necessary to exclude this product from the diet. This method of diagnosis is called an elimination test. It is most often used to detect food allergy. In addition, almost every modern allergology clinic provides an opportunity to make skin tests of immediate type (intradermal injection of an allergen). Cumulative tests are usually necessary for allergic contact dermatitis. After examination in the clinic or department of allergology, the doctor determines the treatment regimen for a particular patient.

How is allergy treated?

First of all, the patient must comply with the hypoallergic diet, which means excluding from the menu not only the bananas themselves, but also all the products that can provoke a negative reaction of the immune system. If the symptomology of the pathology persists, you need to seek advice from an allergist.

To suppress the allergic reaction should take drugs that block histamine receptors. Antihistaminic medicines allow not only to remove signs of an ailment, but also to prevent their development in advance. The most famous and effective medicines from this category are the following:

• Suprastin;
• "Diazolin";
• "Claritin";
• "Loratadin";
• "Zodak";
• "Tavegil";
• "Astemizol";
• Fenkalor;
• "Cetrin."

It should be noted that some drugs have a more potent preventive effect and have little effect on the already manifested allergy symptoms.

How often is the allergy to bananas in adults?

Bananas are loved not only by kids. Delicious and useful tropical fruits are not averse to regale and many adults. Unexpected reaction of the body in the form of skin rashes, lacrimation and itching on the eaten banana can suddenly appear. And absolutely not necessarily at the same time have an allergy in the anamnesis.

Such a response of the immune system is more often observed when the substances that processed fruit before entering the counter in the store get into the body. To prevent further development of the pathological condition, it is necessary to wash bananas under running water before peeling.

Who should not eat bananas?

A true allergy to bananas is the main reason for completely eliminating this fruit from the menu. Specialists are also advised to refrain from eating bananas to people suffering from thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, thrombosis. Bananas are long absorbed and therefore can cause increased gas formation, swelling, pain in the epigastric region. Tropical delicacy contains a large amount of sugar. When diabetes is better to refrain from using them.