An allergy is a pathological reaction of the human immune system to contact with a certain substance that it perceives as hostile. This response of the body has a characteristic mechanism of action: upon first contact with an allergen, specific antibodies to this irritant are produced, then the antibodies attach to immune cells and accumulate, and upon repeated contact, a large number of antibodies are released, which cause various symptoms. Melon is one of the highly allergenic foods.
Is there an allergy to melon?
Despite the fact that melon is famous for its beneficial properties, this product can provoke severe symptoms of an allergic reaction.
In addition to its pleasant taste, melon contains many vitamins. For example, it contains a lot of sodium and iron, vitamin C and B6, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the heart.
As in any other case, the manifestation of a food allergy means that a person must limit himself in consuming the product.
Often, people who are susceptible to an allergic reaction to melon also show symptoms of the disease to other foods, such as chocolate, oranges, and so on.
Know your limits
Most likely, your baby, like most other children, will really like melon, which has a pleasant and sweet taste. However, there is no need to indulge your child, who is capricious and requires more. In everything you need to know your limits. Overeating can have consequences such as:
- intestinal disorders;
- cardiac dysfunction.
It is important to remember that such problems can appear not only in children, but also in adults. Take care of yourself and your children!
Melon allergy: why it occurs
Scientists have found out what is in melon that causes an allergic reaction. This substance turned out to be profilin, a protein that is also found in citrus products and pollen.
What aggravates allergy symptoms:
- large volumes of food eaten;
- presence of other food allergies;
— a product grown in a contaminated environment;
- melon obtained from several different varieties;
— presence of chemical additives.
In the case when a person has consumed an excessive amount of melon, the symptoms are temporary and go away quickly.
Fruits grown in a contaminated environment cause an immediate allergic reaction after consumption.
Melon fruit, obtained from several different varieties, is unfamiliar to the body and will provoke a reaction.
The presence of chemical additives has a detrimental effect on the human body. You should not choose fruit that is unnaturally bright in color.
Diagnostics
The protein responsible for the allergic reaction can be determined using the results of analyzes using the ImmunoCap method, where the major and minor proteins of ragweed must be indicated.
In the case where an allergy sufferer suffers from polyvalent (multiple) allergies, it is better to undergo a complete AllergoChip test, which examines 112 allergenic components and 51 proteins of common allergens.
The results of these tests will help identify the proteins that are responsible for the allergic reaction (triggers), from which ASIT immunotherapy will be carried out.
Also, do not forget about a hypoallergenic lifestyle, the observance of which can be an excellent help in the treatment of allergies to ragweed. The site has a whole section dedicated to the life of an allergy sufferer, so in this article I will not dwell on it in detail, I will only give a few tips on how to alleviate allergy symptoms.
Symptoms in children
For children, melon can become a strong allergen. Symptoms of such a reaction are manifested by the following signs:
- the skin becomes covered with a rash, accompanied by severe itching;
- eating disorder;
- dry throat, cough;
- nasal discharge, frequent sneezing;
- itching in the mouth.
The most severe consequence of an allergy to melon can be Quincke's edema.
If you notice that after eating melon, your child develops allergy symptoms, you should urgently consult a specialist. If symptoms appear instantly, in an acute form, call an ambulance.
Other possible causes of throat discomfort
A sore throat may occur when consuming the product directly from the refrigerator. Symptoms indicate the onset of an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx - tonsillitis, pharyngitis.
Cases where the throat begins to tingle and itch from melon can be caused by an overdose of chemicals. Vegetables purchased at the beginning of the season are loaded with nitrates - fertilizers that accelerate the growth and ripening of the fruit. Manufacturers of the product, chasing high profits, allow increased concentrations of pesticides in vegetables. Imported fruits undergo 10-12 chemical treatments before hitting the shelves of domestic stores.
Is it possible to eat melon if a reaction occurs?
An allergic reaction can occur to any food product. If symptoms occur after eating melon, doctors strongly recommend the following:
- stop eating melon;
- monitor reactions to other products;
— carefully read the ingredients of products that may contain melon;
- do not eat unfamiliar foods;
- do not consume purchased semi-finished products;
- consume products before the expiration date;
At what age can you give melon to a child?
As you have already noticed, melon can bring not only benefits to the baby’s body, but also cause serious harm. Most young mothers are concerned about the question of whether melon is an allergen for children or not. Any doctor will tell you that when consuming melon, an allergic reaction in the form of urticaria is possible. It is necessary to follow simple rules to avoid health problems.
The first portion should not exceed five grams. Then watch to see if your baby shows any signs of allergies. If everything is in order, then gradually, over two to three weeks, increase the portion. However, remember that it should not exceed 200 grams per day for a child who is two years old. If your baby is between one and two years old, the optimal portion is 100-150 grams.
You should not offer melon as a sweet dessert after a meal. The best option is to serve it as a light snack. Cut or half-eaten fruit should not be left on the table; it should only be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the appearance of microbes that can lead to food poisoning. It is also not recommended to give your baby a melon that has been cut for more than a day.
Do not give melon to children who are under one year old. An exception may be if the baby has kidney problems. However, you can give melon to a child when the attending physician independently includes it in the diet.
Melon allergy: conclusion
The symptoms of an allergic reaction to melon are quite acute and can lead to serious consequences. Having identified signs of the disease, you need to be careful about your diet. It is necessary to undergo examination by a specialist and make an accurate diagnosis, finding out the cause of the disease. You should carefully study the composition of dishes that may contain melon and do not eat it in unfamiliar places. Avoid buying processed foods and street food. Be attentive to your health, and you can protect yourself from unpleasant consequences.
How to choose the right melon?
Treat the process of choosing a melon as responsibly as possible, especially if you are going to feed it to your child. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the tail, which, unlike watermelons, rarely remains on the melon. If there is one, it must be dry.
Try pressing on the nose of the melon, which should not be too soft or hard. The “nose” of a ripe fruit is slightly pressed and moderately elastic.
The degree of ripeness of a melon can be determined by its smell. If you can feel a pleasant vanilla aroma in the tail area, then you have a ripe fruit in your hands. An overripe melon will give off a sharp and very heavy smell. If you are unable to detect any aroma, then the fruit is not yet ripe.
The next method of choosing a melon is familiar to many. All you have to do is slap it on the barrel and listen. An overripe fruit will produce a ringing sound, but a moderately ripe one will be dull, with a peculiar echo.
Appearance can also tell a lot about a melon. The most important thing is that there should be no signs of rot, dark spots or other defects on the surface. A ripe melon has a uniform color, without any green stripes or spots. Under no circumstances buy fruit that has even the slightest damage on its surface. All kinds of cuts, scratches or broken peels create ideal soil for the activity of pathogenic bacteria that can trigger the occurrence of salmonellosis or even botulism.
Allergic properties of melon
The properties of melon as an allergenic product are due to the presence of certain protein compounds in its composition. Scientific studies have revealed the presence of 7 poorly digestible substances at once. The allergy chips included:
- Cuc m 1 (serine protease) is an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of proteins. Enhances the activity of profilins.
- Cuc m 2 or profilin is the number one irritant in melon. The main culprit of cross-allergy in a quarter of patients. Causes eating disorders. Protein breaks down under high temperatures.
For reference! Cross-allergy occurs as a reaction to a protein that has entered the body, which the body, for unknown reasons, perceives as foreign. In response, the immune system begins to produce special antibodies. They interact with the allergen, release histamine and cause unpleasant symptoms.
- Cuc m 3 is a pathogenesis-related amino acid that causes a disorder in protein metabolism. Provokes dysfunction of many organs. Peak concentrations of the substance are concentrated in the center of the fruit.
- Cuc m LTP is one of the most severe allergens that can cause serious systemic disruptions, including anaphylaxis. Heat stable, mainly concentrated in melon peels.
- Cuc m Lec17 (lectin) is a protein that binds carbohydrate residues on the surface of cells. In high concentrations it causes inflammation, disrupts the normal transmission of nerve impulses, and increases blood viscosity. Its effect is neutralized by soaking in water and treatment with high temperatures.
- Cuc m MDH or malate dehydrogenase. Increases the likelihood of cross-allergy.
- Cuc m TLP (thaumatin-like protein). A very sweet substance in taste, in this respect more than 100 times superior to sugar. Stable when heated.
Summarizing which substance is the main allergen in melon, we can confidently say – profilin. The rest of the listed irritants, for the most part, only intensify the manifestation of the main culprit of yellow pumpkin intolerance.
What measures need to be taken
An acute allergy requires seeking emergency medical care. At the pre-medical stage, others help according to the standard scheme, depending on the nature of the symptoms:
- acute swelling of the larynx - you should provide a flow of fresh air, raise your head, give an antihistamine, apply mustard plasters to the chest, calf muscles;
- limited swelling - monitor breathing, apply the necessary drug, apply a compress to the swollen areas;
- attack of bronchial asthma - remove the allergen, ventilate the room, give an enema, give activated charcoal, bronchodilators, antihistamines;
- urticaria - rinse the stomach with two liters of water, offer the drug, if breathing is impaired, perform artificial ventilation;
- anaphylactic shock - check airway patency, carry out resuscitation measures.
In what cases should you consult a doctor?
An allergy is definitely a reason to see a doctor. The therapist will conduct an examination, question the patient and take an anamnesis. An unclear picture of the disease causes a visit to an allergist, who will prescribe several tests:
- antibody test - showing the presence of an allergen in the body;
- skin tests - allowing you to evaluate the reaction to melon.
The procedures are contraindicated for children, pregnant women, and patients taking medications. In such cases, a false positive reaction is possible.
Your doctor will recommend keeping a food diary, tracking reactions to different foods.
An elimination diet, which consists of eliminating individual foods one by one, allows you to identify the allergen.
Attention! The provocative test is dangerous and is carried out strictly under the supervision of specialists. Consists of consuming the suspected allergen and recording the response of the immune system
Therapeutic measures
A diet and a combination of medications will help you cope with unpleasant symptoms. It’s not just melon that is excluded from the diet. Crops that can provoke cross-hypersensitivity are also temporarily classified as prohibited. If melon causes allergies, you will have to additionally give up all melons - zucchini, watermelon, cucumbers, pumpkin (including seeds) and tomatoes. Do the same with bananas, grapes, and kiwi.
To get rid of allergy symptoms, they take symptoms, drugs that reduce histamine levels and drugs that remove toxins. List of suitable medications:
- antihistamines (Dezal, Cetrin, Zyrtec, Erius);
- sorbents (Polysorb, activated carbon, Polyphepan, Smecta, Enterosgel);
- allergy ointments are good helpers in the presence of itching and rashes on the skin (Fenistil, Gistan, Hydrocortisone);
- antihistamine nasal drops - indicated if the pathology is accompanied by rhinitis (Nazarel, Allergodil, Cromohexal).
Your doctor will help you choose the right combination of medications. If eating melon causes severe swelling, convulsions, loss of consciousness and bronchospasms, you should call an ambulance. While the ambulance is traveling, the victim is laid on a flat surface so that his legs are higher than his head.
Preventive measures
If you follow safety precautions, allergies can be avoided:
- use melon according to the season, that is, late summer - early autumn;
- be careful when choosing fruits. The melon should be fragrant, without external defects;
- choose sellers who grow their own products. To ensure that the product is environmentally friendly;
- the presence of nitrates is determined without a special device. The condition of the fruit speaks for itself - the seeds may be empty, white veins are observed in the pulp;
- before consuming the product, it must be thoroughly washed with a brush under running water;
- It is best to peel the peel, grabbing a layer of pulp, since a large amount of nitrates is concentrated in the top layer;
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not eat melon;
- Children can try the product after a year, and preferably by two or three years.
People who have already encountered allergic manifestations know how dangerous it is. At the slightest suspicion of an allergy, it is better to exclude the questionable product. It is recommended to eat melon separately from other foods because it provokes fermentation in the stomach. It is not recommended to give melon to children before one year of age.
Since various types of allergies are not so uncommon in the modern world, most people simply need to know which foods are allergens in order to protect themselves or loved ones.
