Food allergies are exceedingly common, but despite the frequency of food allergies, people are still surprised that fruits like avocados can cause allergic reactions. This is also why people ask – if I am allergic to avocado, can I use avocado oil? People who may have allergies but are unaware of them may ask – why do my lips burn when I eat avocado? An avocado allergy can also cause myriad symptoms, from the heat around the mouth to itching near the oral cavity. This makes people ask – why does avocado make my throat itch? And finally, can a food allergy be so severe that it can cause mortality? Can you die from avocado allergy?
Latex allergy is a thing, and getting an allergic reaction in the form of avocado allergies is real. Avocado allergies do exist in a variety of forms. You can get an allergic reaction if you are allergic to any of the proteins found in natural rubber latex or avocados. Latex allergy should be taken seriously, the same way that we should consider the symptoms of oral allergy syndrome seriously.
Oral allergy occurs in both kids and adults. Severe allergic reactions are rare, but they do occur so consult with your physician ASAP. In general, food allergies occur across all spectrums, and you should also note oral allergy symptoms. It isn’t just avocado, other foods can cause the same problems when the immune system reacts abnormally to food components.
Why Am I Suddenly Allergic to Avocados?
Food allergies can occur at any stage of a person’s life. So if you have not been allergic to avocado before, you can develop the allergy later in life. Much of this has to do with your genetic predispositions.
When you have a food allergy, your immune system erroneously labels a particular food or food component as hazardous. In reaction, your immune system causes cells to release an immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody to neutralize the allergenic food or food ingredient (the allergen).
The next time you consume even a tiny amount of that food, IgE antibodies detect it and alert your immune system to release histamine and other substances into your circulation. These compounds trigger allergic reactions.
Some individuals may experience itchiness and dizziness if they consume specific meals shortly after beginning exercise. In extreme circumstances, patients may develop hives or anaphylaxis. This issue may be prevented by fasting for a couple of hours before exercising and avoiding particular meals.
Food intolerance or a response to another chemical you consumed may elicit the same symptoms as a food allergy, including nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea.
Depending on the type of food intolerance you have, you may be able to consume modest quantities of the offending item without experiencing a reaction. In contrast, a natural food allergy can be triggered by even a minute quantity of the allergen.
A challenging component of identifying food intolerance is that some individuals are sensitive not to the meal but a preparation agent or ingredient.
Can You Develop an Allergy to Avocados?
Yes, you can develop an allergy to avocados despite not having any problems with them. However, not all severe reactions to food should be attributed to allergies.
Common illnesses whose symptoms might be confused with those of a food allergy include:
Absence of an enzyme required for complete digestion of a meal
You may lack sufficient levels of specific enzymes required to digest certain meals. Inadequate levels of the enzyme lactase, for instance, impair your capacity to digest lactose, the primary sugar in milk products. The symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, cramps, diarrhea, and excessive gas.
Foodborne illnesses
Food poisoning can sometimes mimic an allergic response. Bacteria in damaged tuna and other seafood can also produce a toxin that causes adverse effects.
Intolerance to dietary additives
Certain dietary additives cause stomach problems and other symptoms in specific individuals. For instance, asthma attacks can be triggered by sulfites used to preserve dried fruit, canned products, and wine in those sensitive to food additives.
Histamine poisoning
Certain fish, such as tuna or mackerel that are improperly refrigerated and contain high levels of germs may also contain high quantities of histamine, which can induce allergy-like symptoms. This condition is recognized as histamine toxicity or scombroid poisoning rather than an allergic response.
What Are the Symptoms of Avocado Allergy?
An oral avocado allergy is induced when the body recognizes the food as a foreign invader and alerts the immune system. Your body responds with mild to severe allergy symptoms, such as lips, mouth, and throat itching. You are more prone to react to avocados if you are also sensitive to latex (and vice versa). Avocado and latex allergies are cross-reactivity examples, indicating that the proteins they contain are comparable. However, if you are allergic to latex and have a response to one of these dishes, you may be responding to the latex in the food preparer’s gloves, not the food.
Symptoms of a latex-avocado allergy include the following:
- Gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting
- Coughing and itchy eyes
- Lip enlargement
How Do You Get Rid of Avocado Allergy?
If you believe you have a food allergy, avoid the item altogether until you consult with your doctor.
Over-the-counter antihistamines may alleviate your symptoms if you consume the dish and get a moderate allergic response. However, seek emergency assistance if you experience a more severe reaction or any signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis.
There is no definitive test to confirm or exclude a food allergy. Before establishing a diagnosis, your doctor will evaluate a variety of criteria. These elements include:
Your symptoms
Provide your doctor with a thorough account of your symptoms, including which foods and how many of them appear to be problematic.
Your family’s allergy history
Also, give information about family members with allergies of any type.
A bodily examination
A thorough examination can typically reveal or rule out other medical conditions.
A skin test
A skin prick test can evaluate an individual’s response to a specific meal. This test involves placing a little bit of the suspected meal on the forearm or back. Then, a doctor or other healthcare professional punctures your skin to inject a little amount of the chemical beneath the skin’s surface.
You will develop a rash or response if you are allergic to the tested chemical. Keep in mind that a positive result on this test is not sufficient to prove a food allergy.
Blood testing
A blood test can determine how your immune system reacts to specific meals (IgE) by assessing the allergy-related antibody known as immunoglobulin E.
For this test, a blood sample is obtained at the doctor’s office and sent to a medical laboratory, where various foods are examined.
Elimination diet
You may be urged to eliminate questionable foods from your diet for a week or two before gradually reintroducing them. This method can help correlate certain meals to specific symptoms. Elimination diets are seldom failsafe, though.
The results of an exclusion diet cannot distinguish between an actual food allergy and a food sensitivity. In addition, if you have ever had a severe response to a food, an exclusion diet may not be safe.
Oral food contest
During this in-office test, you will be given progressively increasing amounts of food suspected of triggering your symptoms. Depending on the results of this test, you may be allowed to reintroduce this food into your diet.
Managing the Symptoms
The only approach to prevent an allergic response is to avoid ingesting the foods that produce symptoms. However, despite your best attempts, you may encounter a meal that triggers an allergic response.
Antihistamines prescribed by a physician or those accessible without a prescription may alleviate symptoms of a mild allergic response. In addition, these medications can be administered after exposure to a food allergen to alleviate itching and hives. Antihistamines cannot, however, cure a severe allergic response.
A severe allergic response may necessitate an adrenaline injection and a visit to the emergency department. Many allergy sufferers carry epinephrine autoinjectors (Adrenaclick, EpiPen). This gadget is a hidden syringe that injects a single dose of medicine when pressed against the thigh.
If your doctor has prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector, ensure you are familiar with its proper use. Ensure that your closest loved ones know how to take the medication; if they are around during an anaphylactic emergency, they might save your life.
Maintaining a spare autoinjector in your car or at your workplace may be prudent. Replace epinephrine before its expiration date, or it may no longer function well.
