Avocado allergy is a rare condition but easily manageable. People who suffer from this condition either have an oral allergy to avocados or are allergic to latex.
Symptoms of avocado allergy
People who have an oral allergy to avocado are also allergic to birch pollen and the symptoms that come from an allergic reaction to avocado are as follows:
- Itching of the lips
- Itching of the mouth
- Itching of the throat
People who are allergic to latex and are also allergic to avocado can exhibit the following symptoms:
- Swollen lips
- Itchy eyes
- Sneezing
- Discomfort in the stomach that could lead to vomiting
Other symptoms that are associated with avocado allergy are hives, swelling of the airways and difficulty in breathing. If the latter symptoms occur after ingesting an avocado the individual is already having an anaphylactic shock and should be treated with an epinephrine shot right away.
Anaphylaxis is fatal if not treated right away so it’s very important to check the symptoms of the patient in case he/she is experiencing a severe allergic reaction to avocado.
Causes of avocado allergy
As mentioned earlier, there are two ways that an individual is allergic to avocado: an existing allergy to birch pollen or an existing allergy to latex.
When a person ingests an avocado his immune system deems the foreign substance as a threat and would produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) and attaches itself to mast cells, which are abundant in the nose, throat, lungs, skin and the gastrointestinal tract. This is why when an allergic reaction is triggered by a food your mouth, nose, skin and stomach are often the ones that get affected the most.
Treating avocado allergy
But if you’re allergic to latex there is also a chance that someone wearing latex gloves could have handled the avocados you ate thereby triggering your allergy to latex. It’s also possible that you’re allergic to the chemicals that were used in cultivating the avocado. A lot of fruits and vegetables are still being sprayed with chemicals to get rid of pests so it’s important that you wash your avocadoes thoroughly before eating them.
But in order to find out if you’re allergic to avocadoes you must consult a physician. There are no skin tests to check if you’re allergic to avocados but your physician might give you a skin test to see if you’re allergic to latex. Allergists will probably advise you to avoid eating avocados in order to prevent an allergic reaction but if your symptoms aren’t too severe there are several antihistamines you can use to counter your allergic reaction.
