Allergy to lemon is a very common occurrence that can occur not only in children but also in adults. Such a negative reaction of the human body to this citrus can be false and true. As a rule, an allergy to lemon is bright, and when the first symptoms of an allergic reaction appear, you need to seek help from a specialist in a medical institution.
Causes of an allergic reaction
Before proceeding with the diagnosis and treatment of such an allergic reaction, the main causes of its occurrence should be considered. Is there an allergy to lemon? Such a reaction of the human body to this citrus is quite likely, because it has a very pronounced allergenicity. The main causes of lemon allergy are as follows:
- The intolerance of the human body to the protein that is part of the lemon. It is this element that acts as the main allergen. Human immunity defines a protein as some kind of foreign object, as a result of which it begins to be rejected. Outwardly, this manifests itself in the form of an allergic reaction. In this case, it is customary to talk about a true allergy to lemon. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the fact that a person begins to experience allergic symptoms not only after eating fruits, but also during the use of other food products, cosmetics, medicines, which contain acids, extracts or lemon oil.
- Another reason that causes symptoms of lemon allergy in adults and children is the irritating effect of various chemicals that are used to process the fruit. As a rule, manufacturers treat lemons with substances, thanks to which they can be stored for a long time. In addition, such substances can preserve the presentable appearance of a lemon as long as possible. Various chemical compounds protect fruits from mold and rot. In such situations, an allergy is not considered the result of a specific intolerance by the human body of the lemon itself.
- Considering whether lemon causes allergies in the presence of any diseases, it should be noted that with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, allergies are usually called false. The risk of an allergic reaction during the use of lemon increases with dysbiosis, as well as with hepatitis of various origins.
- Another possible cause of a lemon allergy is heredity. Approximately half of the reported cases indicate that people suffer from individual intolerance to citrus fruits due to the hereditary form. It is worth noting that the risk of allergies to this fruit will be present even if close relatives suffered from a food allergic reaction of a completely different form, for example, intolerance to chocolate.
In some cases, allergic manifestations are observed as a single case, if a person has eaten a fairly large amount of this citrus. The specific proteins that are contained in lemon, when they are ingested in large quantities in the human body, begin to stimulate the activation of the immune system. And she at the same time begins to produce special antibodies directed against the allergen.
The symptoms of lemon allergy in children are pronounced. This is due to the fact that the child has not yet fully formed immunity.
Symptoms of a Lemon Allergy
Considering the signs of an allergic reaction, you should also pay attention to the fact that they can occur not only during the consumption of the fruit itself, but also with the use of citric acid. Symptoms of an allergy to lemon or acid are very bright, they manifest themselves within 2-3 hours after using the product. The severity of these symptoms will largely depend on the amount of fruit eaten, the state of human immunity, as well as a hereditary predisposition to any food allergens. Considering how an allergy to lemon is manifested, the following symptoms should be considered:
- Severe headaches.
- Fluid and frequent stools.
- Soreness in the abdomen.
- Severe itching and redness of the skin, as well as the formation of a rash on it. It should be noted that these symptoms are especially pronounced on the hands and face.
- Attacks of vomiting and nausea.
- Runny nose and nasal congestion.
- Sore throat.
- Redness of the eyes.
- Slight burning in the mouth.
- Swelling of the mucous membrane in the mouth.
- Violation of the functions of the respiratory system, which are expressed in the form of asthma or asthma attacks.
Anaphylactic shock acts as a generalized manifestation of an allergic reaction to citruses, during which severe respiratory disorders are observed, the appearance of generalized urticaria, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and Quincke's edema.
Symptoms of a lemon allergy in children
As for the symptomatic picture of the allergic reaction to lemon among children, then, as a rule, they practically do not differ from signs of allergies among adults. Most often, an allergy to lemon, the photo of which is presented in this article, manifests itself externally. In parallel with this, shortness of breath, nasal congestion, and also swelling of the respiratory tract appear. External signs include the following:
- Rashes on the skin.
- Lacrimation.
- Nasal congestion and runny nose.
- Itching in different areas on the body.
In more detail you can look at the photo symptoms of lemon allergy in adults and children.
Diagnostic Methods
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to lemon in many people manifest themselves in different ways. If the allergy proceeds in a severe form, then the manifesting symptoms can become a threat to human life. With a severe form of an allergic reaction, as mentioned earlier, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock and angioedema can develop. If assistance is not provided to the patient on time, then some complications can result even in death.
Before proceeding to therapeutic treatment, it is necessary to undergo a diagnostic examination. First of all, the patient should consult an allergist. This specialist collects an anamnesis, after which he examines the skin and prescribes a laboratory study.
In order to determine the main reason for the development of an allergic reaction, it is necessary for the patient to take a blood test, as well as to make a variety of tests for allergens.
When conducting an allergy test, small scratches are made on the patient’s arm, after which allergen drops are dripped onto them. If within 20 minutes there has been a reaction to a particular allergen, then the specialist prescribes medication.
Antihistamine treatment
If a person has an allergic reaction when drinking lemon, then you should resort to therapeutic therapy, which is aimed at eliminating the symptoms that have appeared.
Basically, for this purpose, a specialist prescribes the following antihistamines:
- "Diazolin".
- The Zodak.
- Suprastin.
- "Erius."
The use of sorbents
In parallel with this, the doctor may prescribe the use of certain sorbents, for example, Enterosgel or activated carbon, to the patient. As a rule, these drugs are able to well remove toxic substances from the body to the outside.
Outdoor allergy remedies
If, due to an allergic reaction, rashes form on the skin, and severe itching is also felt, then these symptoms can be eliminated by using external means:
- Hydrocortisone.
- Sinaflan.
- Lokoid.
Hormonal drugs for the treatment of allergies
If any complications are observed, then you will have to resort to the use of hormonal drugs, such as Hydrocortisone or Prednisolone. Such funds are used for 5 days, as they have a number of side effects.
Immunotherapy
If necessary, a specialist can prescribe an immunotherapy. In this case, the patient is given a meager dose of the allergen, which increases over time. As a result of this, the human body begins to produce individual antibodies, which are able to block this allergen. Such therapy is very long, but the allergy in most cases goes away completely.
In addition to the main treatment, you will also have to adhere to a special hypoallergenic diet. Typically, such a diet is a specialist individually for each case.
Folk remedies
If lemon provoked an allergic reaction in humans, which is not expressed on a significant scale, then it can be used to treat traditional medicine. The most effective in this case are the following:
- A decoction based on calendula flowers. To prepare such a drink, you need to fill in 10 g of calendula flowers with 250 ml of hot water. The broth should be infused for 3 hours, after which it is consumed one tablespoon three times a day.
- A rather effective remedy is the yarrow infusion. For cooking, you need to take 30 g of dry grass, pour 250 ml of boiling water, let it brew for half an hour. After this, the broth is filtered, and the resulting product is taken before eating 50 ml.
- Nettle broth. To make a drink, you need to take one tablespoon of the flowers of this plant, pour one glass of boiling water. Allow the broth to infuse in a warm place for 30 minutes. After this, the broth is filtered and taken in 100 ml several times a day.
Dieting
As mentioned earlier, in the treatment of allergies, you must also follow a certain diet. In most cases, such a diet is compiled by an allergist individually for each patient. But, as a rule, those foods that are considered to be strong allergens are excluded from the daily diet. These products include the following:
- Chocolate.
- Honey.
- Mushrooms.
- Milk.
- Shrimp
- Nuts.
In this case, those foods that have a low degree of allergenicity should predominate in the diet. These products include broccoli, pumpkin, turkey meat, zucchini.
Some recommendations for eating citrus
In order to prevent an allergic reaction to lemons and other citrus fruits, it is recommended to adhere to some tips, which are as follows:
- During pregnancy, women are advised to abandon the use of citrus fruits, especially in cases where there is high blood pressure.
- Lemon is allowed to be introduced into the diet of children after the age of three. But even before that, parents should consult their pediatrician.
- In no case should you drink lemon to those people who suffer from allergies to citrus fruits, and also have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys.
- Before eating lemon, it must be washed well under a stream of hot water, so that all the chemicals used to process the fruit are washed off the skin.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that an allergy to lemon is a very common occurrence. Such a reaction of the human body is observed with certain specific features of the immune system. This condition needs compulsory treatment, since in severe cases, an allergic reaction to citrus fruits can even lead to death. For this reason, in no case should you ignore the symptoms and signs of allergies. When they appear, you must immediately seek advice from an allergist.