Citrus allergy
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Allergy to citrus fruits is a typical example of idiosyncrasy, that is, intolerance to certain foods and medicinal substances.
A similar kind of allergic manifestations is called pseudoallergia or a false allergy, in which the allergic response of an organism to the invasion of a trigger (provoking allergen) occurs without the participation of specific antibodies - immunoglobulins.
[Causes allergies to citrus fruits
Allergy to citrus fruits is not a specific, separate disease. Monoreaction for oranges or tangerines is almost never found, more often such manifestations are associated with cross pseudoallergies. The main triggers of false allergies are salicylates, benzoates and amines. Also, pseudoallergies are caused by foods that contain the amino acid of histidine, from which histamine is synthesized.
Citrus fruits contain both tyramine (amine) and salicylates, especially many of them in mandarins, oranges, lemons and grapefruits are less dangerous in this sense. In addition, many allergists believe that intolerance of certain food components, including citrus, is associated with dysbiosis or latent liver diseases.
How is the citrus allergy formed?
Pseudo-allergy is provoked, usually by eating, which contains the trigger ingredient. Any idiosyncrasy, including allergies to citrus, begins to develop at a time when the body gets a lot of provoking substances. The key phrase is a large number. The intensity of the reaction is directly related to how much the citrus people ate: the more, the stronger the allergy. Oranges, lemons, mandarins, and so on contain special components that can cause the strongest release of histamine, without involving immunoglobulins in this process. Accordingly, visual symptoms will be extremely similar to those of a true allergy, but the disease has a different nature. When carrying out allergic tests, antibodies are not detected, this is the evidence that the rash, swelling and itching are provoked by idiosyncrasy on the food product.
The excessive production of histamine is caused by so-called liberators (from the word liberation-liberation) - food components contained in almost all products. But especially hard-hearted cheeses due to tyramine, all sorts of citrus due to phenolic compounds (salicylates), as well as products that include chemical dyes, stabilizers, preservatives, thickeners and so on are considered particularly provocative. In the process of digestion, there is interaction between the liberator and histamine, which ends in favor of the latter. In addition, an allergy-provoking substance significantly impairs the metabolism of arachidonic acid, which is an important component of cell membranes.
Symptoms of allergies to citrus fruits
Liberation (liberation) histamine causes a vascular and vegetative reaction in the form of redness, itching, rashes, sensations of heat, dyspnea. Quite often, an allergic reaction manifests itself with urticaria, accompanied by severe headache, dyspepsia. The most provocative are oranges and to a lesser extent mandarins, the abuse of which can cause a strong vegetative-vascular reaction in the form of a hypotonic or hypertensive crisis. All the other signs, which diagnose allergies to citrus fruits, are quite typical for a true, classic allergy. A characteristic feature that can help distinguish a false allergic reaction from signs of real allergy is the slow development of symptoms.
How to treat allergy to citrus fruits?
If oranges, tangerines cause an allergic reaction, of course, you need to abandon them, exclude them from the diet, and for a long time. Also, all products containing citrus essential oils, including perfumes and hygiene products, should be discarded. However, this does not mean a lifelong refusal to use such a favorite oranges in principle. Elimination diet can last from one month to six months, then cautious "experiments" are possible, involving the intake of minimum portions of favorite fruits. It should be remembered that in the development of a false allergy an important provoking factor is precisely the amount of food consumed, hence, small portions should not cause an allergic reaction. If, after a forced interruption, even a mandarin slice or a piece of orange provokes rashes, swelling or shortness of breath, then the allergy is caused by a completely different, hidden cause that the allergist can find out.
Primary symptomatology - itching, hives, can be suppressed with the help of over-the-counter antihistamines. If the allergy to citrus appears as a threatening sign in the form of bronchospasm, suffocation, you should call a doctor or an ambulance.