Strawberry is a very popular fruit that is extensively used in desserts. Strawberries are deemed attractive looking due to of their reddish appearance. Hence, they are used a lot for garnishing delectable dishes. Strawberry is a widely preferred fruit because of its taste and appearance, but it is also known for causing an allergy. There are many people who have been diagnosed with this allergy. But there is a big percentage of people who are still unaware of their allergies. So, it is very important that people recognize their allergies so that they can seek proper medical care. Food allergies can prove to be fatal in a lot of cases. So, precautions need to be exercised in this matter.
The Reason Behind Strawberry Allergy
We must know the reasons behind an allergy for us to be able to take necessary measures. An allergy is caused when your body treats something as a foreign material or an allergen. In this case, your body launches an attack using your immune cells to eliminate this allergen. This can give rise to a lot of symptoms as well as discomforts. Strawberry allergy happens because of the same reason. If you have strawberry allergy, your body would treat ingested strawberries as allergens and would start a full-fledged immune attack against them. This allergy can be triggered by a certain protein or constituent that is present in strawberries that your body might be allergic to.
Some studies have found out that the red color of the strawberries is the reason behind this allergy. Some other studies have pointed out that people who are allergic fruits like kiwis or pineapples are more prone to having strawberry allergy. There is no definite way to know about all the foods that can cause allergies. Hence, it is important that you pay attention and listen to your body to help you get some clarity.
Symptoms Of Strawberry Allergy
Symptoms of an allergy varies from individual to individual. Also, the time taken by your body to show symptoms can vary between 2 minutes to 2 hours depending on the exposure to the allergen and your body’s ability to react. The most prominent effects of an allergy is seen on the respiratory system and gastrointestinal system of an individual.
The symptoms of an allergy on the upper body can include tightening of the throat, itching, swelling, burning sensation on the tongue and lips. Also, lacrimation, running and itchy nose, nasal congestion and welt are some other symptoms. People can also experience symptoms like asthma, diarrhea, anaphylaxis, nausea and vomiting etc. These symptoms are seen rarely in case of a strawberry allergy.
Treatment And Precautions
The most proactive thing to do in case of an allergy is to treat it fast and correctly. But the treatment of an allergy depends on the physical symptoms that are manifested by the allergic reaction. If you are having itchy and running nose, headaches because of the allergy, then you can buy some anti-histamines to treat your symptoms. If you are having skin rashes, swelling and itching due to your reaction, then you can get some over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams for application. Cortisteroid lotions and topical anti-histamine creams can be your other options. Applying hot compression on the swellings can provide some relief.
Negligence in case of allergies can prove to be fatal and life-threatening. There are some cases in which people have felt chest pain and experienced severe breathing difficulty. It is important to seek immediate and intensive medical care in such cases. In a lot of cases, patients can often go into an anaphylactic shock due to the allergy. In such cases, they need to be injected with epinephrine and taken to a nearby hospital immediately.
Prevention is better than cure. This is the best advice that should be followed in case you have an allergy. So, if you have strawberry allergy, then avoid eating strawberries altogether. When you go out to eat, make sure to order foods without strawberries in them.
You can’t change your body’s affinity to react, but you can definitely exercise precautions to avoid such reactions.
