Citrus allergy symptoms
Allergy to citrus fruits, like honey, is considered the most common type of disease. At the slightest hit of the allergen in the blood, unpleasant sensations begin to appear. You need to know the main symptoms, as well as how to treat it.
Citrus allergy symptoms
Allergy symptoms
Allergy to citrus fruits occurs in both children and adults.
In children
The main symptoms include:
- Inflammation, acne or age spots appear on the skin - it looks like it was bitten by mosquitoes;
- Signs of hives often appear;
- Asthma or shortness of breath;
- Spasms in the bronchi.
Allergy to citrus fruits in children is much more difficult than in adults. This is due to an undeveloped immune system, which is unable to deal with the emerging danger to the health and life of the child. It is especially dangerous to consume oranges or kiwi, which have a high concentration of active enzymes.
If Quincke's edema appears in a child, compulsory hospitalization is required. The baby's immunity is not able to withstand such symptoms and, if urgent medical attention is not provided, then edema will form in the larynx region, and the child will suffocate.
In adults
It is easier for an adult to resist him, and the treatment will take several days. When such symptoms appear, they immediately consult a doctor.
Citrus allergy symptoms:
- Citrus foods can cause shortness of breath and irritation of the throat and lungs. In severe cases, bronchospasm occurs.
- Development of conjunctivitis, runny nose or migraine.
- The manifestation of a rash on the skin. The localization of the rash is different (neck, body, legs, arms, etc.)
- Sometimes the consequence is Quincke's edema.
- Sometimes allergies affect the stomach or intestines - a person begins to experience heartburn, diarrhea, bouts of nausea and vomiting.
For allergies, it is important to control the amount of fruit eaten. If you consume no more than 1 fruit in 1 day, then nothing terrible will happen. Do not get carried away and eat large quantities of fruit every day. But an allergy to citrus fruits in adults can manifest itself in other variations: certain extracts and oils of exotic fruits are found in cosmetics.
Diagnostics
Allergies are detected with a test
To diagnose an allergy to citrus fruits, it is necessary to pass tests and get the results of the anamnesis.
The doctor pays attention to the functioning of the excretory system, the characteristics of digestion and the quality of the immune system. It is worth studying all the features of genetic development. If the parents did not have harmful reactions, it means that he suffers from individual intolerance to certain components: tests are again taken to determine these components.
Citrus allergies are detected using a special test. For the quality of the result, the patient must stop taking medications for several days. These can be antihistamines or hormones.
For the test, special substances from the peel of the fruit are used, they are applied to the human wrist, after high-quality disinfection of the skin. After 2 minutes, a gauze cloth is applied to the hand, through which a small incision is made with a needle or scalpel. Its depth does not exceed 0.7 mm. If, after 15 minutes, redness appears in the area where the substance was applied, which persists for an hour, then allergic reactions are present.
Treatment
At the slightest symptoms of an allergic reaction, it is customary to immediately seek help. Several types of drugs are commonly used.
- Antihistamines: Cetirizine.
- Hormonal medications: Prednisolone. Such substances should be abandoned during pregnancy - drugs can cause a delay in the development of the child.
When a runny nose appears, vasoconstrictor sprays are used.
For children
If a child is allergic to citrus fruits, treatment is prescribed. Special sorbents are prescribed that are able to remove all toxins and toxins from the body. Such drugs are characterized by the principle of detoxification, due to which they remove all residues of the allergen from the circulatory system, prevent them from being reabsorbed into the body and reduce the impact of the negative environment on the body of children.
For adults
It is customary for adults to prescribe special immunotherapy: allergens are injected into the body in small doses. Such a procedure can help fight allergies, and symptoms will not appear for a long time. For a good result, you should skip the fruit for a few months while the treatment is being carried out.
Citrus allergy is also treated with a skin test. Thanks to this procedure, it is easier to find out which particular product is capable of causing discomfort. You will have to give up only 1 product, and not all delicious exotic fruits.
Conclusion
The manifestation of allergy to citrus fruits in adults and children is not uncommon. In order to avoid unpleasant situations, you should consult a doctor and find out about the characteristics of your body. If you test positive for an allergen, you should always have antihistamines with you to reduce the negative effects.