Banana allergy: to eat or not to eat - that is the question

Banana is a fruit that smells good, is never sour, and therefore children like it so much from an early age. Adults are also not averse to pampering themselves with a sweet fruit with a pleasant aroma and delicate taste. Manufacturers take advantage of the small weaknesses of buyers and actively add banana fruit to pastries, yogurts, cereals and other products. Banana smell, and sometimes taste, is used by cosmetics manufacturers. Deodorant or hygienic lipstick with the smell of a banana will not surprise anyone. Of course, there is little left of the banana itself. Let's get back to the fruit itself.

Types of banana allergies

Banana allergy is rare in both children and adults, but it does exist. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly know its symptoms if you or your loved one is allergic. It should also be noted that an allergic reaction to a banana is divided into several types.

oral allergy

It is caused by eating a banana and its derivatives (syrups, cocktails, toppings, jams, dried chips) makes itself felt by swelling of the lips and nasopharynx. Coughing or choking occurs. Difficulty breathing is complicated by shortness of breath. Redness on the cheeks or a rash is an optional sign of this allergy.

You will be surprised, but banana allergy and latex are closely related. It's all about the protein found in rubber and bananas. Latex sensitization means that an allergic person will be sensitive to bananas as well.

allergy to banana pollen

After considering how an allergy to a banana fruit manifests itself, it should be added that a reaction can also occur to the pollen of this sweet treat. Therefore, going to Thailand or another heavenly place to relax, be attentive to the surrounding flora. Banana bushes are easy to recognize by their resemblance to a huge fan.

Symptoms

Symptoms will vary slightly. As with pollinosis, allergies are manifested by rashes on the skin, urticaria. Perhaps there will be problems with the digestive system in the form of upset stools or vomiting.

Attention: Allergy sufferers only need skin contact with a banana fruit to develop an allergy.

Bananas for children

Most parents hear from pediatricians and neonatologists the recommendation to start introducing fruits from a banana and an apple into complementary foods. Complementary foods are recommended to start from 6 months, so that the body responds adequately to new substances. Doctors sometimes forget to clarify whether children are allergic to bananas. Therefore, we share useful information with you.

It is believed that these fruits do not cause adverse reactions and are well tolerated by the children's body. However, in the case of a child who has an allergy, everything is somewhat more complicated. The parents of such a baby are especially careful about his diet, choosing the most safe foods for the immune system. Allergists answer the question whether bananas can be used for allergies in children, ambiguously. They identified the following symptoms of an allergy to this fruit in children:

• red spots on the cheeks;
• rash on chest and face;
• itching and swelling of the nasopharynx;
• the appearance of sore throat and cough;
• possible problems with digestion (stool disorder).

Increasingly, you can hear the opinion of experts that a complete rejection of the product is not required.

By giving a banana in small quantities, you give the body the opportunity to get used to it and, perhaps, the immune system will accept this product over time. You can take a break for several months (depending on the degree of manifestation of allergy symptoms), and then try again to add this fruit to the baby's diet in a small amount.

Age also plays a huge role here: the older the baby, the stronger the immune system.

It is worth noting that more and more often patients are diagnosed with cross-allergy . This term should be clearly explained. For example, if you have an allergic reaction to a banana, you may also be allergic to watermelon , zucchini , and pumpkin. It's all about the similarity of proteins. Or, as we said above, a latex allergy entails a banana allergy.

Banana allergy treatment in adults

Allergy to bananas in adults manifests itself in the same way as a reaction to any other allergen: rash, redness, signs of suffocation, cough.

Banana allergy treatment will be effective if you start taking antihistamines immediately after eating this fruit. You should always have these drugs in your purse. For example, tablets Suprastin, Tavegil; drops Zirtek, Fenistil-gel, Claritin. Please note that most anti-allergic drugs have a sedative effect and cause drowsiness, so be careful on the road.

Taking pills inside is best combined with an external effect on an allergic reaction. In other words, if there is a rash or itching, add an ointment, gel or allergy cream to the tablets. This will make you feel better and speed up your overall treatment.

This food allergy cannot be called seasonal. So, it can occur both in the heat and in the winter cold. It all depends on when you decided to treat yourself to this delicacy and went too far with the quantity. Fruit allergy can in rare cases be inherited. But this is not at all necessary.

Diagnostics

Modern medicine knows many ways to test your body for allergens. This is a molecular blood test, which studies the reaction to various kinds of proteins. These are prick tests that show if there is a reaction on the skin. There are also various tests and samples. You should start with a visit to a therapist and an allergist-immunologist who will prescribe an adequate examination. After that, with his results in hand, it will be possible to get a doctor's appointment for the treatment of a particular ailment. The doctor will explain how to adjust the diet, what to add, and what should be temporarily refrained from.

So, having considered this topic in detail, we give clear recommendations:

1. You can eat fruit, but little by little, withstanding a break.
2. We do not completely remove the product from the diet.
3. We carry antihistamines in our purse.
4. We also add ointment to the tablets for greater effectiveness.
5. On vacation, we carefully look at what grows around the hotel. Banana "palms" are bypassed.
6. We watch not only what we eat, but also what we drink, avoiding banana smoothies and toppings.
7. Just in case, we avoid latex products until we do a full examination or prick test for allergens.

Your health is in your hands. Do not delay with a trip to the doctor and let your life not be overshadowed by illness.