Contents
Allergy to oranges is common in both children and adults. Intolerance to citrus fruits can be partial, manifested only when overeating, and absolute, when it is better not to even try the fruits.
Why are you allergic to oranges?
Any allergy develops in the same way. The immune system perceives a certain substance that has entered the body as a pathogen, and releases antibodies into the blood – immunoglobulins E. Connecting with mastocytes and basophils, these cells provoke the release of histamine. This neurotransmitter affects the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system and is not harmful in small amounts.
Excessive amounts of histamine lead to the development of negative processes. In particular, capillaries expand in the body, and the permeability of their walls increases, edema appears, and the blood thickens. The adrenal glands actively secrete adrenaline, which provokes narrowing of small arteries, a person’s heart rate increases and the production of digestive enzymes increases.
The negative reaction of the immune system to oranges can be caused by several reasons:
- heredity – if the parents have allergies, then with a high probability it will manifest itself in the child;
- weakened immune system – citrus intolerance often develops in people living in an unfavorable environmental environment;
- autoimmune, cardiovascular and digestive disorders – the body spends a lot of resources on maintaining normal health, when external allergens enter, a negative immune reaction occurs;
- changes in the hormonal background – intolerance is caused by foods that were previously digested normally;
- intestinal parasites – an allergy to citrus fruits and other fruits often develops with helminthic infestations.
Orange intolerance is common among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Allergies often develop in children under three years of age, so it is generally not recommended for babies to offer citrus fruits.
Immunostimulants or immunosuppressants can provoke a temporary allergy to oranges.
What does an orange allergy look like?
Symptoms of an allergy to oranges are about the same in adults and children. They develop almost immediately after citrus enters the body, and in some cases even skin contact with fruit juice is enough.
Symptoms of an allergy to oranges in a child
Young children have sensitive immune systems and vulnerable digestive tracts. Therefore, their allergy to oranges manifests itself especially brightly and occurs after consuming a minimum amount of citrus pulp.
Individual intolerance in young children is expressed in the following symptoms:
- dermatitis and urticaria – redness quickly spreads over the skin and is accompanied by severe itching;
- eyelid swelling and lacrimation;
- diarrhea and nausea;
- frequent urination;
- sneezing, allergic rhinitis or nasal congestion;
- drowsiness and weakness;
- flatulence and severe belching;
- bronchospasm and asthma attacks;
- angioedema.
Especially often children from two to seven years old suffer from an allergy to oranges. In older age, intolerance often disappears or becomes less pronounced.
Signs in adults
Allergy symptoms in adults differ little from intolerance symptoms in children. But they are usually less pronounced. Only in rare cases, against the background of the use of citrus fruits, serious negative consequences develop.
Symptoms of an allergy to orange fruits in adults are:
- skin rashes – both moderate and very plentiful;
- severe itching of the epidermis;
- swelling and redness;
- diarrhea or constipation;
- nausea and vomiting;
- allergic rhinitis and cough;
- tearing and inflammation of the conjunctiva;
- spasm of the respiratory tract and a violation of the timbre of the voice;
- dizziness;
- fainting.
With a strong allergy to oranges, adults may experience heart rhythm disturbances, as well as Quincke’s edema.
Allergy to oranges can lead to a sharp drop in blood pressure
How to treat an allergy to oranges
There are no reliable treatments for food intolerance. Usually, therapy is reduced to eliminating symptoms and preventing the development of complications.
First aid
When the first symptoms of allergy appear, it is necessary, first of all, to assess their severity. If a child or adult feels generally normal, but suffers from rashes or digestive upset, at home, you can limit yourself to any antihistamines.
If the allergy symptoms are severe and the person needs medical attention, the first step is to give him activated charcoal or another sorbent. This will slow down the absorption of the pathogen into the blood and slightly improve the condition. Immediately after taking the sorbent, you need to call an ambulance. Specialists will give the patient an injection of adrenaline or give corticosteroids that can relieve severe allergy symptoms.
Home Treatment
Severe allergy attacks may require the patient to be admitted to a hospital. But more often the consequences of a negative reaction of the body are treated at home.
The fight against the symptoms of an allergy to oranges is carried out in a complex manner. To eliminate manifestations of intolerance use:
- antihistamine ointments that relieve redness, swelling and itching of the skin;
- cold drops;
- tablets or syrups for allergies;
- antibiotics to prevent the development of secondary infections;
- probiotics to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
If your allergy is accompanied by fever, your doctor may prescribe an antipyretic. But usually such drugs are not resorted to, unless the fever becomes really strong.
With a severe allergic rhinitis, it is necessary to rinse the nose with saline to avoid the development of sinusitis
Diagnostics
If you have a serious allergy to oranges, you must first undergo a diagnosis. Research will help make sure that it is citrus fruits that cause intolerance, will determine whether it is a real or false reaction, and will also bring you closer to understanding the causes of the immune response.
Diagnosis of allergies consists of two main stages:
- external general examination of the patient and the collection of anamnesis;
- clinical diagnosis.
There are three ways to accurately determine the presence of an allergy to oranges:
- With the help of a venous blood test. A sample of biological fluid is examined for specific antibodies, as well as a search for cells characteristic of certain allergic reactions.
- Through a skin test. On a small area of the back or forearm, small punctures are made and lubricated with several liquids with potential allergens. If one of the compounds really causes intolerance in a person, then after 30-60 minutes a noticeable redness will appear at the site of application.
- With the help of food provocation. This method is the most dangerous, and the diagnosis is usually carried out in a hospital. The bottom line is that after two weeks of a strict diet, the patient is offered a capsule with a possible allergen, and then the reaction of the body is observed throughout the day.
It is especially important to undergo a diagnosis if the intolerance to oranges appeared suddenly, although it was not there before.
Prevention
The most reliable way to prevent an allergy to oranges is to completely avoid citrus fruits. It is necessary to resort to it, if even a small amount of pulp causes a sharp negative reaction of the body. It is possible that other citrus fruits will have to be removed from the diet along with oranges, since the composition of such fruits is largely the same.
If the allergy is mild, then the fruits are temporarily excluded from the menu, and after a certain period, the pulp is carefully tasted again. Intolerance symptoms especially often appear and disappear by themselves in children and pregnant women. To understand whether the allergy has been neutralized or not, you can also re-pass laboratory diagnostics.
With a slightly pronounced intolerance, it makes sense to resort to the following practice – oranges continue to be eaten, but in microscopic quantities, gradually increasing volumes. The body in this case should get used to the citrus fruit and stop perceiving it as a pathogen.
Allergy to oranges is often accompanied by intolerance to other fruits with brightly colored skins.
Conclusion
Allergy to oranges can lead to serious consequences for the body. At the first negative signs, it is necessary to provide an adult or a child with urgent assistance. In some cases, the body reacts to citrus so sharply that medical intervention is required.
