It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like bananas. Nutritionists say that these fruits contain all the nutrients necessary for the body and also can eliminate hunger for a long time. Despite all the benefits, there is one significant drawback - an allergy to bananas. A negative reaction after eating bananas is actually extremely rare. These fruits belong to the medium allergenic category of products. Sometimes this reaction of the body becomes cross-section and passes to other fruits.
Why is there an allergy?
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 introducing it (in small quantities) as a complementary food for babies in their 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 an ailment.
One of the reasons for the development of a similar situation, experts call an excess of serotonin, which is contained in bananas in large quantities. Therefore, this reaction is called pseudo-allergic, indicating an excess in the blood of the "hormone of happiness." If for some time we exclude fruits enriched in serotonin from the diet, the level of the substance in the body normalizes, and the symptoms of allergies disappear.
Real (true) allergies to bananas are very rare. This response of the immune system is associated with intolerance to certain substances that contain tropical fruits.
Most often, the allergy is provoked not by the bananas themselves, but by the chemicals that were used to process them during transportation and storage. Children of a younger age category are especially at risk of a pathological condition.
Allergy Symptoms
Could there be an allergy to a banana and how does it manifest? Like any other food allergy, a negative reaction of the immune system to the use of these delicious fruits develops over time. You can determine the ailment by the following symptoms:
- the appearance of red spots on the skin;
- itchy skin;
- swelling of the mucous membranes (larynx, oral cavity);
- nausea, vomiting;
- digestive upset (diarrhea);
- abdominal pain;
- sore throat;
- allergic cough ;
- lowering blood pressure;
- dizziness;
- loss of consciousness (rarely).
The temperature with allergies most often occurs just against the background of food intolerance of certain products. A similar symptom is usually found in children.
The most severe allergic reaction is considered anaphylactic shock. With a slow pulse, dizziness, the patient must call an ambulance as soon as possible.
Banana allergy in children
The body of a small child is extremely vulnerable to allergens. The immature immune system is not yet able to "distinguish" safe and harmful substances and therefore negatively reacts to all new products that the child tastes. Despite the fact that pediatricians recommend giving bananas to infants (at 8-9 months), this fruit cannot be called completely safe. In some cases, such a treat may “not like” the immune system. Parents can find out about this by an allergic rash in the form of pimples on the cheeks, tummy and buttocks of the child.
In middle-aged children, an allergic reaction to a tropical fruit is also considered a rare occurrence. Most often, this condition is associated with excessive consumption of bananas. In this case, not only skin reactions appear, but also disturbances in the digestive tract. Some parents note that children have a fever with allergies caused by a food product. Doctors recommend to give the child an antihistamine medicine and temporarily exclude bananas from the diet to alleviate symptoms.
Diagnostics
Every year an increasing number of people suffer from allergies. This disease can be congenital (transmitted from parents) or acquired. An allergology clinic is the first place to go if you suspect an ailment. Experienced, qualified specialists (allergists) will prescribe the necessary tests to help establish the true cause of the allergic reaction.
Examination of the patient begins with a medical history, in which cases of a similar reaction of the body will be recorded. An allergist 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 keep a special food diary, where they should record information about the foods eaten during the day and the reaction of the body. 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 allergy tests
If the patient suspects that he is allergic to bananas, you should first of all exclude this product from the diet. This diagnostic method is called an elimination test. It is most often used to identify food allergies. In addition, almost any modern allergology clinic provides an opportunity to make skin tests of an immediate type (intradermal administration of an allergen). Skin tests are usually necessary for allergic contact dermatitis. After examination in a clinic or allergy department, the doctor determines the treatment regimen for a particular patient.
How is allergy treated?
First of all, the patient must follow a hypoallergenic diet, which implies the exclusion from the menu of not only the bananas themselves, but also completely all products that can provoke a negative reaction of the immune system. If the symptomatology of the pathology persists, it is necessary to consult an allergist for advice.
To suppress an allergic reaction, drugs that block histamine receptors should be taken. Antihistamines can not only remove the symptoms of the disease, but also prevent their development in advance. The most famous and effective medicines in this category include the following:
- "Suprastin";
- "Diazolin";
- Claritin
- Loratadine
- "Zodak";
- "Tavegil";
- "Astemizole";
- "Fenkalor";
- "Tsetrin."
It should be borne in mind that some drugs have a more powerful preventive effect and have little effect on the already manifested symptoms of allergies.
Do allergies to bananas often occur in adults?
Not only babies love bananas. Tasty and healthy tropical fruit is not averse to relish and many adults. An unexpected reaction of the body in the form of a skin rash, lacrimation and itching to an eaten banana can occur suddenly. And it is completely optional at the same time to have a history of allergy.
This response of the immune system is more often observed when substances that processed fruits get into the body before going to the counter in the store. To prevent further development of the pathological condition, it is imperative to wash the bananas under running water before peeling.
Who should not eat bananas?
A true allergy to bananas is the main reason to completely exclude this fruit from the menu. Experts also advise to refrain from eating bananas for people suffering from thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, thrombosis. Bananas are absorbed for a long time and therefore can cause increased gas formation, bloating, pain in the epigastric region. A tropical treat contains a large amount of sugar. With diabetes, it is better to refrain from using them.