Allergy to red occurs in adults and children. Regularly consuming such foods is very beneficial for health. They help improve blood circulation, reduce fatigue, have a positive effect on the functioning of internal organs, and give vigor and energy. But in some cases, such products provoke a hypersensitivity reaction. This problem requires the help of an allergist.
Causes
Any food can cause signs of allergies if the body perceives them as foreign substances. It doesn't depend on the color.
But if the immune system reacts poorly to red fruits and vegetables, this is due to poor tolerance of lycopene and anthocyanin. These pigments are responsible for color.
Lycopene has pronounced antioxidant properties. It allows you to cleanse the body of toxic elements and prevents the development of malignant processes. Under the influence of this substance, heart function improves and the influence of bacteria and fungi on the body decreases. But some people suffer from sensitivity to this substance.
During the day, no more than five milligrams of lycopene should enter the body. If this dose is exceeded, an allergy or lycopenoderma develops, in which the skin turns orange.
Allergy to red pigment develops under the influence of:
- abuse of exotic fruits and vegetables;
- a large number of chemical components in the products;
- weakened immune system;
- toxic substances and wastes that pollute the body;
- inflammatory processes in the digestive system;
- pathologies of the pancreas.
Quite often children face this problem. This is due to insufficient maturity of the immune and digestive systems.
Cause of occurrence
Exacerbation of the disease is associated with uncontrolled consumption of berries in large quantities.
The youngest patients end up in the allergist’s office with diathesis, dermatitis, and other forms of allergy. Allergy experts note that the peak of patient requests occurs at the beginning of summer. Children under three years of age suffer due to the fact that the child’s body is not quite ready to process the enzymes contained in wild berries. As the baby grows, the structure of the body changes along with it. He is already able to digest foods and process enzymes, so with age, an allergy to wild berries may disappear.
Symptoms
People with sensitivity to red fruits and vegetables feel worse after eating them:
- swelling appears;
- the skin turns red and a rash appears;
- lips and tongue become numb;
- a runny nose develops and stuffy nose;
- the functioning of the digestive organs is disrupted;
- painful sensations appear in the abdominal area;
- Nausea with vomiting and bloating occur.
In some cases, dangerous symptoms of the disease develop in the form of Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. At the same time, the pressure drops sharply, shortness of breath and suffocation occur. The appearance of such symptoms requires urgent medical attention, so you need to call a doctor.
Diagnostic methods
To make a correct diagnosis, you should first consider the symptoms of a berry allergy.
Allergy to wild berries manifests itself differently in all patients. The disease can begin with weakness and vomiting, but develops rapidly. Itching and burning in the mucous membranes, sore throat and cough may occur. A rash and increased body temperature may appear. But the most terrible manifestation of an allergy to wild berries, in principle, like any other allergy, is anaphylactic shock, which makes breathing difficult and leads to dire consequences. This complication can cause both pulse disturbance and Quincke's edema. If you have such symptoms, you should urgently call a doctor.
Features of allergies in children
An allergy to red in children most often occurs when they begin to introduce the first complementary foods with red berries, fruits, and vegetables. In children, the body reacts violently to stimuli. Therefore, it is not recommended to give such products before the baby is one year old.
The risk of developing such disorders in infants increases:
- if oxygen starvation occurred during pregnancy or during labor;
- with genetic predisposition;
- after suffering infectious diseases;
- if during lactation a woman abuses red vegetables and fruits.
When introducing red foods into your child’s diet, you need to carefully monitor his reaction to the new food. Complementary foods should be introduced in an amount of no more than half a teaspoon. You cannot introduce several new foods at once.
A child is allergic to red in the same way as in adults, but the clinical picture is supplemented by diathesis. This symptom is manifested by itching and flaking of the skin on the cheeks and diaper rash. To get rid of these problems, the child is bathed in baths with a decoction of chamomile, string and other plants.
Regardless of the symptoms that arise, the child should be shown to a pediatrician. He will determine the severity of the allergic reaction and, if necessary, refer you to an allergist.
Allergy to red foods
Allergies to foods that are naturally colored red are relatively rare. According to statistics, eight foods account for about 90 percent of all food allergies:
- milk,
- eggs,
- fish,
- shellfish,
- peanut,
- nuts,
- wheat
- soya beans.
None of these foods are red, although several red fruits are known to cause relatively mild allergic reactions in some sensitive people. Strawberries, apples, plums and tomatoes are the most common culprits, although they usually lead to oral allergy syndrome, which is the development of an itchy rash or contact dermatitis where there is contact with foods such as the lips, tongue and throat.
The allergens in strawberries and tomatoes are believed to be certain proteins that are destroyed by heat.
Diagnostics
If a person consumes several red foods, it is important to determine which substance is the irritant. To do this, the doctor first talks with the parents. He needs to describe in detail all the symptoms and the time of their onset. After this, the baby's blood is taken for laboratory tests.
In addition to general indicators, it reveals the level of immunoglobulin. Skin and provocative tests are also performed. To exclude concomitant pathologies, an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity may be prescribed.
Thanks to timely and correct diagnosis, you can choose the appropriate treatment option.
Hypoallergenic diet. Which fruits are suitable for an adult or child with allergies?
If an allergic reaction occurs, you should identify its causes - the allergens that irritate your body. You can contact a specialist and do an allergen test. To prevent the development of a reaction, you need to follow a proper hypoallergenic diet.
I think all of us love to eat fruits and berries. But with allergies you don’t have to choose – most people think – and they force themselves to give up this pleasant and healthy treat.
But it turns out that not all fruits cause severe allergies. Some of them can be eaten, but be careful, you must consult your doctor, because all fruits, without exception, can cause allergies.
Let's figure out what fruits you can eat if allergens are not identified.
So, all food products for people with allergies can be divided into three main color groups:
- Low level of allergens (GREEN).
- Medium level of allergens (YELLOW).
- High levels of allergens (RED).
Allergy sufferers should absolutely not consume RED colored foods
The color YELLOW should be limited in consumption. It is not safe to eat foods with this color, but it is allowed. Of course, only after consulting a doctor.
Products colored GREEN can be safely eaten. Low-allergenic foods will not cause harm. These foods are safe and can be eaten during the most severe flare-ups.
Fruit fruits fall almost directly into the colors of these categories.
Allowed fruits. Green color:
- Apples are green
- Pears of different varieties
- Gooseberry
- White cherries, white currants
- Prunes
- Dried pears and apples
Fruits whose consumption can be limited. Yellow color:
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Red and black currants
- Bananas
- Watermelons
- Cowberry
Important! Bananas are on the yellow list, but people with latex allergies should absolutely not eat bananas.
Consumption prohibited. Color RED:
- Citrus
- Dried apricots, figs, dates
- Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, wild strawberries, cherries
- Red apples
- Sea buckthorn
- Blueberry
- Grape
- Pomegranate
- Plum
- A pineapple
- Melon
- Persimmon
Dishes made from the following fruits are also prohibited: jelly, compote.
Note: Pregnant women without allergy symptoms should also not eat the listed prohibited foods from the red list. In addition, you should follow a hypoallergenic diet in the first months of breastfeeding so as not to cause allergic reactions in your child in the form of diathesis.
Dear readers, remember that by following these recommendations and eating approved foods, you can live healthy and fulfillingly, despite your allergies.
Normally, the human immune system exerts protective actions to intercept harmful viruses and bacteria. But for some people, the immune response is the result of substances from food entering the body. Many people experience food allergies. This is a very exaggerated response of the immune system, caused by various foods, such as nuts, chicken eggs, fruits and berries.
Berries are a popular dessert that absolutely everyone loves. In addition to their taste, berries also have beneficial properties. And this is not surprising, because they contain so many useful vitamins and microelements. But sometimes eating a tasty treat can result in unpleasant symptoms.
Therapy
To get rid of symptoms:
- Eliminate all allergenic foods from the diet.
- Give the child a cleansing enema.
- Sorbent drugs are prescribed. Usually this is Activated carbon, Sorbex, Enterosgel. They speed up the process of removing the irritant from the body.
- Drugs are selected to block the production of histamine. They help reduce itching, inflammation and other signs of allergies. Most often they are treated with Suprastin, Tavegil, Zyrtec, Claritin.
- It is recommended to take vitamin complexes.
- Anti-inflammatory and antipruritic ointments are prescribed. Children are prescribed Advantan and Skin-cap, and adults are prescribed Actovegin, Hydrocortisone and others.
Treatment
Treatment of the pathology is impossible without eliminating allergenic foods from the diet. A hypoallergenic diet is prescribed, which also excludes cross-allergens.
Pharmacotherapy
If allergies occur, antihistamines are prescribed: cetrin, zyrtec, cetirizine, fexadine, loratadine, claritin, etc.
Antihistamines
In case of malfunctions of the digestive system or skin rashes, appropriate symptomatic pharmacotherapy is prescribed. In particular, drugs are prescribed that improve intestinal microflora, bifidoyogurt, kefir, for external use - fenistil, nezulin, epidel, protopic and others.
Anaphylactic shock requires an immediate call to the ambulance, and angioedema requires hospitalization.
Traditional methods
You can also relieve symptoms using folk remedies. For such purposes, rosehip, cocklebur, Veronica officinalis, burdock, dandelion, yarrow, chamomile, horsetail, centaury, St. John's wort, celandine, calendula, ephedra, bark, nettle, peony, string are used. Infusions, ointments, lotions are made from these plants, and baths are taken with the addition of the listed herbs. However, traditional methods can only be used in consultation with your doctor!
Diet
If you are allergic to red pigment in food, you need to follow a diet. Disengagement from the stimulus is an important part of treatment. It is necessary to exclude tomatoes, strawberries, pomegranates, raspberries, red peppers, grapes, cherries, beets and watermelons.
Some adults experience allergy symptoms after drinking red wine. This is due to the fact that the drink contains histamines, which are used in the wine making process.
To avoid avoiding red foods from harming your health, you need to include dairy products, beef liver, fish, and green vegetables in your diet. This will saturate the body with enough vitamins.
Treatment of allergies to berries in a child
Since a child’s allergy to blueberries, strawberries, wild strawberries and other berries most often manifests itself in the form of a skin reaction, it is recommended to use various creams and ointments. Many modern non-hormonal remedies for allergic reactions are successfully used even in the treatment of infants.
Let's look at the difference between antiallergic ointments and creams. The ointment is a homogeneous mixture of ointment base and active substance. If the active and excipients are soluble in the base, then we are talking about a homogeneous ointment. If they are insoluble, then the product is in the form of a paste, suspension, emulsion or cream.
In acute inflammation, the permeability of the skin is increased, so creams are more suitable. Homogeneous ointments, due to the ability of their active ingredients to penetrate deep into the skin, are more effective for chronic allergies.
Also, if a child is allergic to berries, they may be prescribed antihistamines in tablets or drops. For example, Zyrtec is quite effective. Unlike many antiallergic drugs, it is not addictive and safe for children over six months old.
You can buy Zyrtec in a pharmacy even without a prescription, but you cannot use it without a doctor’s permission. Children over 6 years old are already comfortable taking tablets (10 mg once a day). It is recommended to give children from six months to a year 5 drops once a day, from 1 year to 2 years - 5 drops twice a day. A child over 6 years old can take 20 drops no more than 1 time per day.
Erius is a 3rd generation antihistamine. Children over 12 years of age are usually prescribed 1 tablet (5 mg) once a day. Erius syrup at this age can be taken 10 ml once a day. From 6 to 11 years it is recommended to drink 5 ml of syrup once a day, from 1 to 5 years - 2.5 ml once a day, from 6 to 11 months - 2 ml per day.
Prevention
To avoid exacerbation of allergies, instead of red foods, you need to consume healthy components that are similar in the presence of them. Instead of red tomatoes, you can eat yellow ones, and give preference to green apples. You should only buy products from trusted manufacturers.
An allergy to red in adults and children is not a death sentence if you follow the preventive recommendations:
- Create a suitable diet without the presence of allergens.
- Strengthen the immune system. To do this, you need to harden yourself, play sports, and take complexes of vitamins and minerals.
- Periodically carry out cleansing procedures and diets.
- Switch to green vegetables and fruits.
It is impossible to completely get rid of allergies, but if you follow the advice of doctors and avoid contact with the irritant, you can maintain a normal state of health.
Causes of allergies and their characteristics.
How can such a tasty and healthy delicacy as fruit cause allergies?
The thing is that fruits contain special acids that cause severe allergic reactions.
In most cases, allergic reactions of this kind occur in people who are allergic to pollen, that is, with hay fever. Acute allergies can occur even from the aroma or touch of fruits.
Allergy sufferers should especially beware of overripe fruits. It is in these fruits that a huge amount of specific acids accumulate - such fruits cause the maximum number of allergic reactions.
Tip: Always remove the skin and top layer of the fruit. The fact is that the skin contains much more allergens that irritate the body than the center.
It should be remembered that the body may react not to the fruit itself, but to the frequent chemical treatment of its surface in our time. This is another reason why it is recommended to remove the skin of the fruit before eating it.
It is strictly not recommended to try exotic fruits.
If the fruit is processed - boiled, dried, baked - the allergens will be destroyed and the fruit will become much safer.
Reasons for the development of pathology
Allergy to berries occurs at any age in the presence of certain negative factors:
- Increased sensitization of the body. In this case, eating even a small amount of the product (not only berries, but also other highly allergenic foods) can trigger the appearance of dangerous symptoms.
- Hereditary predisposition (if the person’s immediate relatives also encountered a similar problem).
- Disturbances in the functioning of the immune system (for example, in autoimmune, infectious diseases).
- Diseases of the digestive tract, in which the process of digesting food and absorbing nutrients is disrupted.
- Hormonal disorders (in particular, during pregnancy, menopause, taking hormonal medications, endocrine diseases).
Often, characteristic signs of an allergic reaction occur with excessive consumption of berries. This condition is commonly called pseudoallergy.
Important! In this case, it is necessary to limit the amount of the product, but not completely eliminate it from the diet.
