According to the legend of Ancient China, the plum was a symbol of longevity and perseverance, it was under this tree that the philosopher Lao Tzu was born, and the flower symbolizes the five gods of happiness.
For the Japanese, the plum tree is a sign of a samurai, meaning courage and fidelity in marriage. For East Asians, it represents the youth of a girl and implies erotic overtones. The plum depicted in the paintings of Renaissance artists signified the independence and steadfastness of faith among Christians.
Prunes are a product of drying plums of a certain type. France is considered the birthplace of dried fruits, where they were brought by the Crusaders.
In the small town of Aden, ripened fruits are collected by hand from August to September. Not from the branches, but fallen and already withered. This fruit has a black color, a matte surface, and a fleshy, elastic consistency. They are dried using a method that has been proven for more than one generation, without adding preservatives.
This fruit is a weak allergen. It would seem an ideal product that brings only health. After all, it contains microelements phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, vitamins A, C, E, K, group B, pectins, organic acids, fiber, sugar.
But, despite the above advantages, in recent years, it has often been the culprit for people’s well-being.
Causes and symptoms of prune allergy
For symptoms to appear, the following components are necessary:
- Allergen.
- Sensitized organism.
The pathological process is caused by chemicals such as caustic soda and glycerin. They are used for preservation and giving an attractive presentation.
Of the natural components, protein is an allergen. It is contained in small quantities, but in case of weakened immunity or individual intolerance it causes an immune response.
Manifestations:
- Nasal congestion, runny nose.
- Numbness and itching of the oral mucosa.
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, neck organs.
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite.
- Diarrhea with mucus, colic, flatulence.
- Atopic dermatitis.
- Anaphylactic shock, urticaria.
Treatment of the disease
Many people suffering from food intolerance are interested in how an allergy to plums can manifest itself and how the allergy sufferer’s condition can be improved.
Drug therapy
Allergic disease responds well to drug treatment, which consists of several stages:
- Antihistamines - Tavegil, Claritin, Suprastin, Diazolin, Loratadine, etc. Today, first generation antihistamines are used extremely rarely, as they can cause adverse reactions in the form of chronic lethargy, fatigue, impaired concentration and inability to orient in space (see . in more detail “Antihistamines in the treatment of allergies: mechanism of action and classification“).
- Enterosorbents – Enterosgel, Smecta, Polysorb, activated carbon. They cleanse the digestive system of toxic residues and promote the rapid removal of allergens from the body.
- Hormonal drugs - Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone. They are used exclusively in the most severe cases, when immediate medical assistance is required. For example, with Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock .
To treat an allergic reaction in infants, syrups and suspensions approved for use in childhood are prescribed. These include Erius, Zodak, Telfast. Before using the drug, you should carefully read the instructions and study the age restrictions. After all, if Erius is allowed to be given to a child who has reached the age of 6 months, then Telfast is allowed only after 6 years.
If you are allergic to these fruits, it is very important to strictly follow a diet, completely exclude red and yellow plums, plum jams, preserves and any confectionery products with the addition of prunes from your diet.
It is very important to prevent an allergic person from developing a cross-reaction!
Cross allergy to plums and prunes
When answering the question whether there can be an allergy to prunes, it is imperative to take into account the high probability of cross-allergy to plums. It is most often caused by fruits and berries of the Rosaceae family. These include primarily peaches, apricots, nectarines, cherries and sweet cherries.
In addition, prunes can cause allergies if you are intolerant to birch pollen, since it contains protein substances similar to those found in plums.
What can you replace plums with?
Plums are considered real natural “record holders” for the content of vitamins E and P, which are vital for the full functioning of the body. If you are allergic to fruits, it is recommended to replace them with other products that also contain these vitamin elements.
These include:
- unrefined grain bran;
- olive, sunflower and other vegetable oils;
- green leafy vegetables;
- lettuce and arugula;
- rose hips and blueberries;
- Bell pepper;
- buckwheat grain;
- parsley.
Be sure to enrich your daily diet with these products! This will help prevent vitamin deficiency and saturate the body with useful substances necessary for its active functioning.
Allergies to plums and prunes are extremely rare, but can cause serious discomfort to an allergy sufferer. Most often, intolerance reactions develop in childhood and are associated with too early introduction of complementary foods or the dietary habits of a nursing woman. Timely diagnosis and properly selected treatment will help reduce the manifestations of the disease and improve the well-being of the allergy sufferer.
Allergy to prunes in infants
The body of a child under one year old is immature. During the first twelve months, all systems and organs improve and adapt to new living conditions. Therefore, when introducing complementary foods made from dried plums into the diet, mother should know:
- Use adapted puree, not store-bought dried fruit. Since the production of baby food uses high-quality natural products, without chemical treatment or preservation, which have undergone serious control.
- If there are rashes on the skin after eating cherries, peaches, or cherries, a cross-reaction is possible.
- Exceeding the serving size leads to stomach and intestinal spasms, diarrhea, and dehydration. This is a dangerous condition for a baby.
- Most often, a baby's reaction to a food allergy is diathesis, when a small rash appears on the hyperemic background of the skin of the face and torso.
- If you vomit, feel restless, or refuse to eat, immediately seek qualified help. The doctor will determine the cause and prescribe treatment taking into account the age characteristics of the baby.
- If a nursing mother doubts the reason, a food diary will help, where all the foods consumed will be recorded. This way, identifying the allergen will not be difficult.
Diagnosis of allergies
Only a diagnostic examination can accurately answer the question of whether there is an allergy to prunes. To do this, you need to contact a therapist or allergist. The doctor will order a blood draw to identify specific type E immunoglobulins (see “Blood testing for immunoglobulins for allergies”).
Skin tests are considered one of the most accurate and informative methods for diagnosing an allergic reaction. The essence of this technique is to apply the suspected allergen to the skin through small incisions, which are made by a doctor. Skin tests are not used to diagnose allergic diseases in children under 5 years of age. This diagnostic technique carries a serious risk for the human body, regardless of age, and therefore is carried out only under strict medical supervision.
If pregnant women and young children are allergic to plums, it is very important to keep a food diary in which all foods and drinks consumed throughout the day are recorded.
Allergy to prunes in a child
For older children, whole dried plums are introduced into the diet no earlier than 3 years. Before eating, it is better to soak it in hot water, remove the seeds, and rinse several times. For a laxative effect, ensure adequate fluid intake.
- Unlike infants, older children can tell and show if something is bothering them.
- Skin reactions ranging from allergic dermatitis to urticaria are common manifestations.
- The general condition is usually not affected.
- In any case, consulting a doctor will dispel the mother’s doubts.
How to cook prune compote for a baby for constipation
One of the oldest cultivated plants is the fig, also called wineberry, fig and fig. In folk medicine it is used for various painful conditions in children and adults. It is believed that this plant practically does not cause allergies, and its fruits can be eaten even by nursing women. But is this really so?
Content
- Uses of figs
- Is it possible to be allergic to figs?
Uses of figs
Fresh figs are juicy and tender, so they quickly overripe and are practically impossible to store. Immediately after harvesting, it is dried, which does not lead to the loss of the basic properties of the product, but increases the calorie content from 74 to 257 Kcal per 100 g.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDe3lTuzarU
Dried figs contain:
- up to 6% protein;
- about 60–70% carbohydrates;
- a small amount of organic acids (citric, malic, quinic and glyceric);
- pectin and fiber;
- folic acid, vitamins C, B1, B2, B3 (PP), B6, A and E;
- unsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6;
- micro- and macroelements (iron, potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus and magnesium);
- special substances (ficin).
This fruit is not only nutritious, but also healing. It has a diuretic, diaphoretic, tonic, mild laxative, antipyretic and antiseptic effect. The combination of large amounts of iron and folic acid makes figs useful in treating anemia. It is also used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, sore throat and bronchitis.
But figs are a subtropical fruit, unusual for most residents of the northern regions. This means it could potentially be more allergenic than temperate fruits.
Uses of figs
Prunes may cause a reaction
Until recently, prunes were a hypoallergenic product. It was often introduced into infants' complementary foods in the form of a puree to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The fruit also contains a large amount of useful substances and vitamins, so it is good for the child.
If the product is not administered as a puree, but in dried form, an allergic reaction may occur due to special processing of the product. Before sale, prunes are coated with oils, fats or glycerin for shine.
A child may have an individual intolerance to prunes. Therefore, when eating the fruit, an allergic reaction occurs. In this case, characteristic symptoms appear already for the first time after tasting the fruit.
It is worth noting that the allergic reaction to prunes is cross-linked. If your baby experiences negative changes when eating plums, cherries, peaches, sweet cherries, almonds, nectarines, and apricots, then there is a high probability of an allergy to prunes.
1In many stores, prunes are treated with a special substance to give them a more presentable appearance. Before eating this berry, it must be thoroughly washed under hot water.
2Frequent illnesses teach a lesson to the human immune system. Children with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing this allergy. But with poor immunity, a person can begin to develop any allergic reaction.
3Each person’s body is individual. It is for this reason that some people have intolerance to certain foods. Such a product may be prunes.
In adults, an allergy to prunes almost never occurs. But there are still cases when a person’s immunity could be weakened due to an illness. Then an adult may also develop an allergy to this dried fruit.
It is not advisable to use purees, compotes and decoctions of prunes as the first complementary foods. The child's body may react ambiguously to this product, which will lead to the development of an allergic reaction.
An allergy to prunes in an infant can develop for the following reasons:
- Processing of dried fruits. Before sale, dried fruit is coated with wax, glycerin, oils or other chemicals that can serve as irritants for the infant’s fragile immune system. This can happen if you yourself prepared puree or compote from unwashed or poorly washed dried fruits.
- Cross allergy. If a child was allergic to peaches, almonds, cherries, cherries, plums, then the risk of developing an allergic reaction is high. Due to their similar composition, these fruits have a common allergen.
- Weak immunity. In infants who often get sick, even hypoallergenic dried fruits can cause an autoimmune reaction.
- Individual intolerance. In this case, it is worth eliminating prunes from the child’s diet completely. If you are still feeding him breast milk, then it is advisable to refrain from eating prunes during this period.
There are many reasons for the development of an autoimmune reaction in infants. But according to statistics, the most popular are weak immunity and hypersensitivity to the composition of dried fruit.
In older children, an inflammatory process is not always observed, and the symptoms depend on the individual characteristics of the body. The reaction occurs predominantly in a weak form, compared to infants. The symptoms of an allergy to this berry are similar to food poisoning and have a pronounced character.
Prunes are given to young children as complementary foods and are recommended to be prepared as a puree or decoction. Quite often, infants experience an allergic reaction to baby cereals that contain prunes.
Overdose and allergy to this dried fruit have quite similar symptoms. The most common manifestations are:
- Various redness on the skin of the face, sometimes the spots spread to the entire body of the child.
- Skin rash of various locations.
- Severe itching. It is worth paying attention if the child begins to scratch some areas of the body excessively.
- Digestive disorders – nausea, diarrhea.
- Painful stomach cramps.
An allergic reaction can occur even if the mother feeds her baby with breast milk, having previously consumed prunes.
Going to the hospital for qualified help, rather than self-medicating, is half the way to full recovery. Moreover, when the disease appears in a small child, treatment at home can be very dangerous.
The pediatrician must prescribe the necessary medications: syrups and drops. In order to prevent allergies to this dried fruit, it is important to keep a food diary and carefully monitor the child’s diet. Especially during the period of introducing the first complementary foods.
If relatives or parents of a child suffer from asthma, allergies, urticaria, allergic rhinitis or dermatitis, then such diseases can be inherited through genes. Let's determine what allergies look like in infants and what causes them.
A child prone to allergies should not drink cow's milk. It contains a high content of casein (in mother's milk its presence is minimized). It is necessary to take into account that babies with a predisposition to allergic manifestations cannot be supplemented with simple formula in the maternity hospital, so as not to provoke allergization of the baby from the first minutes of his life.
Symptoms of an allergic manifestation to milk protein appear both immediately (IgE-dependent), that is, immediately from half an hour to 2 hours, when the baby was given milk formula, and in a delayed manner (IgG4-dependent) - after 1-2 days. Photos of the process clearly show this.
In the form of a gastrointestinal tract disorder. Vomiting occurs
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By the way, I was thinking, I probably would have even bought it, but in our “village” I didn’t find pumpkins, but now I don’t even know whether to give them... In general, we have problems with normal nutrition, mainly Frutonyanya and Agusha, but only Gerber is suitable for us , Heinz and Hipp, have to go where they are.
Yes, this is our area of the village, and in other areas where there are children's stores and supermarkets, of course everything is there (except for Heinz zucchini, which has finally disappeared somewhere), so you have to go to these stores, but you want to go out and buy.
Source
The composition contains organic acids such as citric, oxalic and malic, as well as chlorogenic acids (powerful antioxidants that have antibacterial properties).
Prunes are rich in pectin, which not only helps cleanse the body of toxins and waste, but also improves blood circulation and normalizes cholesterol.
It must be remembered that this product is a good and fairly mild laxative, since it contains dietary fiber, phenol complexes and sorbitol.
Prunes are very good for health, including for young children. Since an allergic reaction to it is quite rare, already in the first year of life you can give prunes to children as complementary foods, preferably in the form of a puree or decoction.
Allergy to prunes in adults
People with allergies can be divided into two categories. Those who have symptoms within two hours and those whose illness appears later, sometimes after a few days.
Immediate reactions are lightning fast, similar to anaphylactic shock, affecting the vital systems of the body. Without specialized help, death is possible.
The course of delayed reactions is milder. There is a feeling of tingling of the tongue, lips, hoarseness, sneezing, runny nose, itchy skin. Symptoms disappear after taking antihistamines.
Doctors recommend that in any case you go to a medical facility to identify the food allergen. This will help prevent more serious consequences in the future.
Symptoms
Manifestations of an allergic reaction to prunes in infants most often occur in the form of skin rashes and digestive problems. An overdose of even this useful product can also cause symptoms very similar to allergies. The most common symptoms are:
- redness of the skin on the face and body;
- the appearance of spots;
- rash;
- skin itching;
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- spasms.
Such symptoms can occur when the child’s body is intolerant to prunes (to a greater extent to the substances that were used to process them), both when they are consumed directly or when they are received through breast milk.
A severe allergic reaction when eating prunes is very rare.
What to do, how and how to treat
Any allergy is a condition that requires specialist intervention. Self-medication is unsafe and can lead to dire consequences. The success of drug therapy will depend on how quickly the supply of the allergen stops.
- Antihistamines are good at eliminating skin manifestations and reactions from the gastrointestinal tract.
- Decongestogens - will cope with nasal congestion and runny nose.
- Leukotriene inhibitors inhibit the release of disease-causing substances.
- Corticosteroids are administered for immediate-type reactions, when it is necessary to quickly cope with swelling and bronchospasm.
- Homeopathy. Recent research has shown that a mixture of rye, wheat and barley reduces the sensitivity of patients with food allergies.
Are prunes allergenic or not?
The table is intended for parents of a baby who are starting to introduce complementary foods. The table shows which foods are the most allergenic and which are the least. However, it is worth remembering that everything is good in moderation. If non-allergenic food is given to a child in excess, an allergy may develop to it.
- Chewing gum
- Nuts
- Halva
- Honey
- Kvass
- Vinegar
- Mayonnaise
- Pepper
- Mustard
- Garlic
- Cinnamon
- Egg yolk
- Pasta and flour products
- Mushrooms
- Bread with bran is not rich (wheat and black bread is not sweet)
- Simple dryers
- Crackers
- Cracker
- Crackers
- Marshmallow
- Paste
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Cocoa
- Cakes with cream
- Butter bread
- Gingerbread
- Ice cream
- Fatty fish (red and white)
- Canned fish
- Caviar (red and black)
- Other seafood products
- Beef steamed, boiled
- Rabbit
- Turkey
- horsemeat
- Lean pork (boiled and stewed)
- Boiled sausages
- Frankfurters and sausages
- Chicken
- Chicken broth
- Duck
- Goose
- Pork
- Mutton
- Veal
- Smoked sausages
- Delicacies
- Cowberry
- Blueberry
- Black and red currants
- Cranberry
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Strawberry
- Raspberries
- Sea buckthorn
- Grape
- Cherry
- Apples (green)
- Plum and prunes
- White cherry
- Pears (green)
- Blueberry
- Dried fruits (dried apples, prunes)
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Melons
- Citrus
- Red apples
- Persimmon
- Grenades
- All tropical fruits (kiwi, feijoa, mango, papaya, pineapple, etc.)
- Canned juices, compotes
- Dried fruits (raisins, dried apricots, dates, figs)
- Potatoes (soaked 10–12 hours)
- White cabbage
- Parsley
- Dill
- Lettuce leaves
- Zucchini
- Patisons
- Fresh cucumbers
- Spinach
- Green salad
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Legumes
- Green pea
- Turnip
- Pumpkin
- Swede
- Tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
- Radish
- Sunflower seeds
- Eggplant
- Beet
- Carrot
- Red and green peppers
- Sorrel
- Dairy products
- Butter
- Non-spicy cheeses
- Fresh milk
- Curdled milk
- Ryazhenka
- Cream
- Sour cream
- Children's cream cheese
- Processed cheese
- Spiced cheese
This is a table of allergenic products - we recommend that you use this as a guide when introducing complementary foods for babies
Prunes have a wonderful taste and can have a healing effect on the human body. Its beneficial qualities are due to its healing content. Due to its abundance of ballast elements, this product is needed for the stomach and intestines. For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to eat up to five berries per day. Eating this dried fruit every day can not only improve your immune system, but also help you lose excess weight.
Prunes are also known for their antibacterial properties. Its effectiveness is not inferior to medications, because it is able to stop the growth and destroy bacteria that cause diseases in the oral cavity. The product is of great help in the treatment of cardiovascular pathologies, if they are not acute. It stabilizes blood pressure, normalizes material metabolism and the functioning of the digestive system. Prune infusion helps eliminate constipation and normalizes digestion. Experts assure that such a drink will be beneficial for kidney pathologies, rheumatism, liver problems, and atherosclerosis. High levels of vitamin A can improve vision.
Many mothers, especially those who are breastfeeding, often wonder whether prunes are allergenic or not. Fresh and dried plums, called prunes, are not included in the list of foods that are a common cause of allergic reactions. But if a patient reacts negatively in the form of an allergic reaction to cherries, cherries, apricots or peach, then it is likely that his body will respond to this dried fruit with an unusual reaction. The most likely causes of allergies include the following:
- Before sale, dried fruit is treated with special compounds so that the appearance of the product remains presentable. Together with poorly washed fruits, these chemicals enter the body, and it reacts to them with an allergy. Therefore, before eating berries, it is best to rinse them with hot water.
- Reduced immunity can also cause allergies. Numerous diseases greatly weaken a person’s defenses. It should be noted that children are most at risk of allergies due to reduced immunity. An adult has almost no allergic symptoms to prunes. But there are cases when the patient’s immunity was greatly weakened by some disease, and after eating this dried fruit, allergenic symptoms appeared
- Individual intolerance to prunes can also cause an allergic reaction.
Prunes cause allergies in infants if they were introduced into the diet too early or if they were eaten by a nursing woman and the child is predisposed to allergic reactions to this product or similar ones.
An allergy to prunes in infants in most cases manifests itself in the form of a rash on the skin and problems with the digestive system. Even an excessive amount of food eaten can cause similar symptoms:
- Redness appears on the surface of the face, and sometimes the entire body of the little patient is covered in spots.
- Rashes of different localization occur on the skin.
- The baby feels severe itching. Pay attention to the fact that the child begins to itch a lot in some places.
- Disorders of the digestive system are observed, nausea begins, and diarrhea occurs.
- Painful cramps are felt in the stomach.
Allergies in a baby can appear even after a mother who has eaten prunes feeds him breast milk. A nursing woman can consume this product, but it should be introduced into the diet gradually, carefully observing the baby’s reaction.
Allergic reactions also occur in adults. But their severity is usually weaker.
Only a specialist can identify an allergen (foreign protein). For research, allergy tests are used, which include skin testing. The research method makes it possible to find a hostile component, remove it from the diet and prescribe an effective therapeutic course. If characteristic signs of diathesis are detected, then even adults are advised to refrain from eating such a fruit dessert. Laboratory blood samples can also provide information about antibody levels.
Experienced specialists advise taking color photographs of the acute phase of the disease in order to visually identify risk factors and causes of irritation.
As soon as allergenic symptoms occur, it is necessary to visit a doctor as soon as possible. For prune allergies in children and adults, doctors most often recommend the following medications:
- Erius syrup - prescribed to babies from six months.
- Diazolin - patients up to two years of age are allowed to take it in the amount of 50 - 100 mg per day, and from two to five years - 150 mg.
- Zodak drops are allowed for use after one year. The prescribed dosage of drops is diluted in water before use and can be taken at any time.
- Tavegil - used in the treatment of children older than one year.
- Telfast - prescribed to children from the age of six.
