Honey allergy

Honey allergy is a type of food allergy. The allergic reaction occurs to pollen present in the pure product.

There are factors that provoke allergies (the cause) and factors that resolve allergic reactions (the reason for their appearance). Such resolving factors include honey, which helps cleanse waste at the cellular level, alkalizes internal environments, causes liquefaction and release of waste into the intercellular fluid, lymphatic and blood systems. The body reacts to such pollution immediately with an excessive immune reaction of forming a large number of antibodies (cells) and humoral (soluble blood proteins).

Can honey cause allergies?

Is there even a honey intolerance? This issue should be sorted out. Fortunately, reactions to bee products are not as common as, for example, reactions to strawberries or citrus fruits. Honey is not an essential product and many can easily do without it.

The joint creation of hardworking bees and plants ceases to be an allergen after pollen is processed with bee enzymes. Pollen and bee bread preserved with honey do not have a pathogenic effect.

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Causes of honey allergy

Allergic reactions are primarily due to adulteration of honey. Unscrupulous beekeepers add cane sugar to honey, which is an allergen. Medicinal substances may get into the product after processing bee colonies. If hygiene standards are violated, chitinous mite shells or any other biological or mechanical impurities are found in honey.

According to doctors, the causes of honey allergy may be purely genetic or a consequence of uncontrolled consumption of the sweet treat (daily intake no more than 200 g).

Honey is considered a valuable remedy for allergies. It is enough to chew honeycombs and the signs of "hay fever", runny nose and sinusitis disappear. Honey helps infants get rid of flaking and redness on the cheeks, seborrheic scales on the head, itching and dry skin. Of course, before using honey, you should do a sensitivity test.

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Symptoms of honey allergy

In each specific case, the symptoms of honey allergy manifest themselves differently. In some, the skin reacts first, in others – the mucous membrane, a third notes hearing loss, etc.

Symptoms are usually divided into weak, moderate and strong. Weak allergic reactions include: •

• the appearance of a rash;
• lacrimation and itching of the eyes;
• hyperemia.

A moderate reaction to an allergen includes difficulty breathing and itching.

An acute allergic reaction or anaphylaxis can cause life-threatening conditions. Initial symptoms may include itching of the eyes or skin of the face, and after some time, the following may be observed:

• swelling that makes breathing or swallowing difficult;
• abdominal pain;
• nausea, colic attack or vomiting;
• dizziness, clouding of consciousness.

How does honey allergy manifest itself?

The manifestations of honey allergy depend on the part of the body that is affected and the strength of the reaction. The allergy manifests itself:

• skin reaction - redness, constant desire to scratch, swelling, appearance of blisters, various rashes;
• pulmonary reaction - shortness of breath, severe cough, pain in the lungs;
• reaction from the face - swelling of the eyelids, cheeks, tongue, throat area, headaches;
• nasal reaction - discharge of various etiologies;
• eye reaction – redness, irritation, swelling, profuse lacrimation;
• gastric reaction – pain in the gastrointestinal tract, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting.

How does honey allergy manifest itself in extremely severe cases? Signs of anaphylaxis occur immediately, so it is recommended to call for medical help at the first suspicion. Anaphylactic shock occurs due to the expansion of numerous blood vessels. It is characterized by a decrease in pressure, which can lead to loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest and death.

Signs of honey allergy

Signs such as: paleness, redness, heavy sweating or lack of fluid, confusion and anxiety, difficulty breathing or stopping breathing indicate an allergy to honey.

Signs of an allergy to honey appear immediately, so before consuming bee products, doctors recommend conducting simple tests: •

Place a small amount of honey under your tongue. If you experience any discomfort (soreness, swelling of the mucous membrane), rinse your mouth with water; •

Place a small amount of the product into the inner bend of your arm. After a while, evaluate the condition of your skin. If there are any symptoms, you should not use honey.

Allergy to honey on face

The most unpleasant thing is when an allergy to honey manifests itself on the face. Sudden redness, rash, swelling or unbearable itching. Cleansing procedures with kefir, sour milk or sour cream diluted with water will help get rid of these symptoms. Wipe your face several times with a cotton pad soaked in one of the products. The next step is a compress from a weak solution of boric acid (half a teaspoon per glass of water).

Allergy to honey on the face goes away when using herbal decoctions - sage, chamomile, string in the form of compresses. The infusion should not be very strong. If there are no medicinal herbs at hand, use not very strong tea. The bandage should be changed every 15-20 minutes. The affected skin should be dried with a towel. Rice or potato starch can be used as a powder on dry skin.

The use of special anti-allergic creams is possible after consultation with a doctor. For skin prone to allergic reactions, a natural chamomile cream is recommended, which can reduce skin inflammation.

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Allergy to honey in a child

The child's body is most susceptible to the influence of allergens, which is due to the weakness and inadequacy of the immune system's reactions.

There are more than 200 varieties of honey. It is difficult to say for sure what type of honey your child is allergic to. One beekeeping product can cause a sensitivity reaction, while another will be completely harmless. Only allergy tests can clarify the picture.

An allergy to honey in a child manifests itself in skin reactions on the face, neck, hands and feet. In order to improve the quality of mother's milk, women ate a spoonful of honey half an hour before feeding. Many formulas for feeding European manufacturers contain a small amount of honey. However, most mothers begin to introduce honey into the baby's diet drop by drop only from the age of one year, and sometimes not earlier than seven years.

It should be remembered that honey is an irreplaceable product for a child. It is good to give it at night with warm milk. You cannot dissolve honey in hot milk or tea, as in the end only glucose and sugar will remain from the valuable properties. Of course, you should not give honey if the child is allergic to this product.

But blaming honey when the baby eats chocolate and other sweets, drinks soda, and steals tangerines is too much.

Treatment of honey allergy

Like any food intolerance, honey allergy is treated with antihistamines and topical agents to relieve skin symptoms.

Treatment of honey allergy often comes down to eliminating the product from the diet. Antihistamines block the action of the allergen, among the side effects of drugs in this group is drowsiness. These substances are divided into:

• over-the-counter (Benadryl, Zyrtec);
• only as prescribed by a doctor (Allegra, Clarinex).

Along with antihistamines, decongestants are used: Tsyrtec-D, Neosynephrine (available without a prescription) and Claritin-D (by prescription). Decongestants can increase blood pressure, so they are contraindicated for patients with hypertension and glaucoma. Side effects include insomnia, excessive irritability and problems with urination.

In some cases, doctors prescribe a combination of medications. For example, allergy treatment may involve taking antihistamines, asthma medications, and mast cell stabilizers at the same time.

How to prevent honey allergy?

Prevention of honey allergy consists of observing the timing of introducing the product into the diet during complementary feeding, and excluding it if signs of allergic reactions have been previously identified.

It is important to inquire about the composition of dishes when visiting restaurants or cafes. Do not be embarrassed - after all, the presence of honey can have an unpleasant effect on you. Naturally, you will have to give up eating oriental delicacies (baklava, etc.).

Monitor the composition of cosmetics, which may include bee products. The correct daily routine, distribution of physical activity, absence of nervous breakdowns and simply a good mood are also prevention of allergic conditions.

Honey very often acts on the body as a natural absorbent. Activation of cleansing processes can manifest itself in the form of rashes, inflammation of the skin. Do not rush to sound the alarm. This means that the body is getting rid of slags, toxic elements. Allergy to honey exists, but it is not widespread.