Mushrooms are a healthy product that has a lot of vitamin B and minerals. Healthy people usually do not have intolerance to this product. But sometimes an allergy to fungi appears, associated with a person’s high sensitivity to spores or proteins. This phenomenon is treatable, which is described later in the article.
Causes
Could there be an allergy to mushrooms? This product can lead to acute body reactions. Each fungus has spores and mycelia that can become pathogens. Usually, a negative reaction to the penetration of spores into the body appears with a hereditary tendency to allergies. It is these cases that are more severe.
Is there an allergy to mushrooms in healthy people? This sometimes happens. Mushrooms leading to allergies can be of 2 types:
- Products: edible mushrooms, yeast.
- Microscopic organisms are molds that develop in a specific environment (in moist places, bread, spoiled food).
An allergy appears in the case of:
- spores on the skin or lungs;
- ingestion with food;
- fungal infection, provoking hypersensitivity.
Some people are sensitive to pathogens that infect pets. Often an allergy to fungi appears in people who, in the process, are forced to come into contact with these microorganisms. This applies to librarians, pharmacists, bakers, brewers, miners. Another allergy occurs in people who spend a lot of time in closed rooms with high humidity, greenhouses and old houses.
What mushrooms rarely cause allergies?
Usually allergies occur to certain families. But there are species that rarely cause this reaction. It concerns:
- champignons;
- honey mushrooms;
- butter;
- oyster mushroom.
These species are not able to absorb chemical compounds that cause intoxication in humans. But even they sometimes get allergies. This is considered a sign of a complex disorder, which manifests itself when ingested, in contact with spores or mycelium.
Allergens
There are mushrooms that cause allergies. It refers to:
- breasts;
- brown boletus;
- boletus;
- white
- to the boletus.
An allergic reaction to chanterelles and mushrooms is often manifested. Digestion of mushroom fiber is slow. When in the stomach, it leads to the progression of allergies. An unpleasant phenomenon occurs in children and people with gastrointestinal diseases, the enzyme system.
Digestion of champignons is easy. They are not able to overload the digestive system. Champignons are often used in cooking, as they rarely provoke allergies. In addition to them, oil and honey mushrooms are often used in cooking.
If there is sensitivity to milk mushroom, then doctors recommend excluding dairy and dairy products. They contain a lot of yeast, which lead to unpleasant symptoms.
With weakened immunity, Kombucha is also a danger. During tea fermentation, mold appears in the drink. It is capable of causing noticeable harm to health and leads to an allergic reaction. If mushrooms cause allergies, do not ignore this, you should consult a doctor.
Who should not eat mushrooms
The product is prohibited for baby food. Since the digestive organs of children are underdeveloped, they are not able to digest this product without complications.
It is not advisable to eat this product with gastritis, kidney and liver diseases. The components present in the composition of the fungi lead to the intensive production of bile and gastric juice.
Do not use the product and pregnant women. It is difficult to digest and can lead to spasms of the stomach and intestines, including uterine contractions. And this can cause miscarriage and bleeding.
Symptoms
Mushroom allergy is often considered an indicator of overall health. Usually, this diagnosis is made if there is a tendency to other allergic reactions, for example, dust mites, pollen, plants.
Symptoms of a mushroom allergy are the same as in food or respiratory disorders. But they have a large degree of manifestation due to the prevalence of this species and the inability to exclude contact with them.
An allergy to mushrooms appears in the form of:
- bronchial asthma;
- atopic dermatitis;
- subfebrile or febrile temperature;
- diarrhea
- nausea or vomiting
- paroxysmal pain in the stomach;
- redness of the skin;
- swelling of the mucous membranes;
- swelling of the airways;
- swelling of the extremities;
- tachycardia;
- arrhythmias;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- increased secretion of mucus from the nose;
- increased lacrimation;
- headaches;
- dizziness, loss of consciousness;
- sore throat.
An allergy to fungal spores is often detected late, as this phenomenon is confused with food poisoning. This leads to a worsening of the reaction of the body, and with subsequent spores getting into the body, the immune system reacts negatively. Therefore, with this allergy, severe symptoms are possible.
Diagnostics
A doctor can determine the cause of an allergy to fungi in a child and an adult when he conducts a comprehensive examination and history. Prior to this, there can only be assumptions about which product a negative reaction has occurred. Therefore, when the first symptoms of a violation are detected, it is necessary to go to an allergist. This is especially true for people who have suspicions that this particular product has become an allergen.
An allergen is determined by several methods:
- Blood is tested for immunoglobulin E and specific antibodies.
- An allergy is provoked by a food supplement (performed after stopping the attack, 2 weeks after refusing drugs and following a strict diet).
- Skin tests for common allergens are performed.
Based on the analysis and medical history of the patient and his family, the doctor determines which components he is allergic to. Usually, in addition to mushrooms, it also appears from other products: dust, wool, animal skin cells, plant pollen.
Treatment features
If an allergy is caused by fungi, its treatment is carried out by stopping the symptoms. But first, the product is removed from the esophagus. Then the patient is prescribed medications that suppress the hormone that provokes allergies.
When there are many pathogenic components in the blood, and the body itself is not able to eliminate them, blood purification is prescribed. When allergens and antibodies are eliminated, symptoms disappear faster. And to stop the attack, you need fewer medications.
The doctor prescribes a strict diet that excludes foods from the diet that can lead to food allergies. This helps to prevent excessive stimulation of the mucous membranes and the immune system. In addition to oral medications, injections are sometimes used to make the treatment result faster. They are administered only with severe allergy symptoms in order to prevent adverse reactions from the suppression of histamine.
When antihistamines do not work, then serious treatment is needed. In these cases, the doctor prescribes a course of hormone therapy to relieve symptoms. Typically, the latter are manifested by edema of the respiratory tract, vomiting, malfunctioning of the heart. To eliminate skin manifestations, creams with antihistamines are used. Their main function is to eliminate itching and redness due to the restoration of capillary circulation and reduce stimulation of nerve endings.
First aid
When the first symptoms of an allergy occur, antihistamines are needed. If the symptoms disappear, then this is a mild form of pathology, which, however, does not exclude the subsequent visit to a doctor.
When symptoms are a threat to health, antihistamines can only delay worsening situations. Therefore, you need to call an ambulance if the signs do not look like mild poisoning. When they occur, this must be done quickly, because, in addition to malfunctions of the heart and lungs, some forest mushrooms are not suitable for food, and then, in addition to allergies, intoxication appears. In this case, before the ambulance arrives, one must induce vomiting and give the person a sorbent to stop the penetration of toxins into the blood.
Before the arrival of doctors, you need to monitor the patient's condition. If breathing is normal, it should be laid on your back. Legs should be raised. When there are respiratory problems, a choice of posture is required in which the compression of the airways will not be strong. In difficult cases, the patient needs to bend down and put his elbows on his knees.
Doctors do not need to give other medicines until the doctors arrive. Only antihistamines and sorbents help. Medicines can react or aggravate allergies. It is necessary to prepare a list of funds that have recently been taken, as well as information about chronic ailments.
Prevention
In order to prevent allergies, it is necessary to exclude mushrooms from the diet. You should choose a diet where there will be no products that lead to such a reaction. If an allergy is manifested in different types of product, and not in certain, then an exception to the diet is required:
- kvass;
- alcohol
- mushrooms;
- yeast baking;
- dairy products;
- different fermentation products.
In addition, you can not be:
- in humid, stuffy rooms;
- in basements, cellars, where poor ventilation;
- in old houses.
If a microorganism spreads in certain areas, then they must be constantly cleaned. This applies to the bin, refrigerator, table, bathroom, the area near the sink and stove. In addition to regular cleaning, treatment with drugs that destroy pathogens is needed. This also needs to be done with shoes that are used in public places: pools, offices.
Other preventative measures
Those suffering from this type of allergy will have to abandon the breeding of domestic plants. If the allergy is not strong, you need to regularly cultivate the soil with antifungal agents.
Pay attention to air conditioning. It can spread dust and spores, which often leads to allergies, so it is advisable to choose devices that filter not only the incoming air, but also blown into the room. If there is no such device in the room, then it is necessary to constantly monitor the freshness of the air. Airing should be carried out at least 2 times a day.
Some fungi infect foliage, mowed grass, so you need to minimize contact with them. The same applies to plants, so for living you should not choose buildings where there are tree stands and open water nearby. Doctors advise against planting garden plants that are vulnerable to pathogens. And if the garden already exists, then careful monitoring of its condition, regular medical and preventive procedures are required.
Conclusion
Mushroom allergy is often manifested in childhood. But even if it arose in adulthood, you need to quickly establish the cause and eliminate it. This will help prevent complications. Prevention should also be performed so that the condition does not worsen.