What to do with pumpkin allergy: treat effectively and prevent it in advance

The pumpkin has a rich vitamin and mineral composition, delicate pulp and pleasant taste. Due to these qualities, it is widely used in children's and dietary menus. However, in rare cases, the vegetable can cause food allergies. An atypical reaction of the body is individual, often manifests itself in the form of edema, skin rashes and disorders of the digestive system.

If you suspect a food allergy, it is important to pinpoint the exact cause. The most important diagnostic methods are allergy tests and keeping a food diary.

Why is there an allergy to a healthy vegetable like pumpkin?

The pumpkin contains dozens of various vitamins and minerals. Fatty acids, vitamin K, T, PP are of particular value. A large amount of fiber helps to normalize the digestive system.

B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. However, specific proteins and carotene can cause an atypical response in the body.

What is the likelihood of allergies

Can pumpkin cause allergies? There is definitely such a possibility. Bright varieties with an orange peel and pulp are considered dangerous, due to the content of beta-carotene, -allergy sufferers they are best avoided. Green, yellow and white vegetables are less dangerous.

The photo shows a variety of pumpkin varieties.

Causes of an allergic reaction to eating pumpkin

Pumpkin can cause true and false allergies. In the first case, the reaction is caused by carotene. In this case, other red and orange vegetables are contraindicated for a person. Food intolerances can be caused by special proteins, which are found only in pumpkin.

False allergy is a one-time phenomenon, it can be triggered by the following reasons:

• eating a lot of vegetables at a time;
• the content of harmful substances in the product: toxins, nitrates, pesticides;
• reaction to other substances in the finished dish, for example, preservatives, spices, dyes.

The appearance of allergies when eating pumpkin

An allergic reaction to pumpkin can manifest itself both when first consumed in infancy or suddenly in adulthood.

Reasons for provoking an atypical immune response:

• hereditary factors;
• immaturity of the digestive system in infants;
• existing allergic diseases;
• diseases of the digestive system.

Allergy to pumpkin in an infant

Pumpkin is often used as a complementary food. However, pediatricians do not recommend using the vegetable for the first feedings. Pumpkin puree is introduced after hypoallergenic vegetables: squash, broccoli, cauliflower.

Due to the immaturity of the food system after eating a vegetable, allergic reactions to carotene are possible. Common symptoms of the immune response in infants are dermatitis, seborrhea, colic.

Important! The allergen can enter the baby's body and with breast milk. A breastfeeding woman should monitor her diet and the newborn's response to pumpkin while breastfeeding. Recording of observations will reveal the allergy when the first symptoms appear.

What are the symptoms

With a true pumpkin allergy, symptoms appear within hours of consuming the vegetable.

Digestive system disorders

An allergic reaction of the digestive system is more common in children. The irritant acts on specific areas of the intestine, where there are accumulations of immune cells.

The manifestations of gastrointestinal disturbances are different:

• colic in babies;
• painful sensations of different locations in children older than three years;
• stool disorders;
• vomiting.

Be sure to watch your child's chair. The appearance of mucus, undigested food in the feces indicates a disruption in the digestive system, which may be caused by an allergy.

Attention! Symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation with allergies in a small child are close to the manifestations of other diseases, including intestinal infections and viruses. The doctor will make the correct diagnosis after passing laboratory tests, including culture for pathogenic bacteria.

Oral allergic syndrome

Oral allergic syndrome (OSA) occurs in patients with two or more allergens. The main irritant is plant pollen, under its influence, a person develops a reaction to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Symptoms of OSA include:

• itching, redness, numbness, tingling in the mouth, gums;
• swelling of the oral area;
• runny nose, sneezing;
• conjunctivitis.

Important! Often, a person with a pollen allergy does not associate symptoms with food intake. This leads to misdiagnosis and accumulation of the allergen in the body.

OSA appears immediately after consuming the vegetable. In rare cases, the reaction occurs within 1–2 hours. Symptoms usually go away on their own. However, the immune response can dramatically increase and lead to serious consequences, including asphyxiation.

Attention! The baby cannot correctly describe the symptoms of OSA and adequately express his feelings. The kid begins to be capricious and give up the pumpkin. It is important for parents to establish the reason for rejection of the product.

Damage to the skin and mucous membranes

With the accumulation of an allergen in the body, delayed reactions may occur: various lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. In a broad sense, all immune changes in the epidermis are called dermatitis.

Common symptoms include:

• redness;
• swelling;
• weeping;
• ulcers, blisters, pustules;
• seborrhea;
• strengthening of the skin pattern.

Treatment involves the elimination of the allergen from the diet and the use of various ointments and folk remedies. The manifestation of allergies can be damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, eyes.

Allergic edema of the eyelids

After eating pumpkin, swelling of the eyelids and other organs may develop. Associated symptoms are headache and general ill health before more tangible symptoms appear. The eyelids swell greatly and the eyes become difficult to open. The patient complains of discomfort and pain.

Sometimes the reaction spreads to other tissues of the eye, leading to an increase in intracranial pressure.
Quincke's edema is close to the named phenomenon. This allergic reaction manifests itself in a sharp swelling and an increase in the volume of the face, larynx, and internal organs.

Important! With swelling of the eyelids and other parts of the face, it is important to immediately call an ambulance. Asphyxia due to laryngeal edema can be a serious complication.

Diagnostics

To make an accurate diagnosis, a set of diagnostic methods is used:

• allergy test;
• food diary;
• elimination samples or exclusion of a product from the diet.

The body's immune response to pumpkin is associated with an increase in the blood IgE protein - immunoglobulin E.Symptoms may appear immediately after consuming the product or within two hours thereafter.

Laboratory testing detects elevated IgE levels. Venous blood is used for analysis. A special pumpkin protein is introduced into the biological material. An increase in IgE is considered a positive result and almost certainly indicates an intolerance to the product.

Testing is used in the treatment of allergies. Research results show the effectiveness of a therapeutic diet and the severity of the disease.

Signs of mild to moderate severity

The degree of manifestation of signs depends on the individual characteristics of the organism, the amount of the allergen and the time of its exposure. Symptoms in a mild degree do not threaten a person's life and go away on their own after excluding the irritant.

These include:

• redness and slight swelling of the skin and mucous membranes without violating the integrity of the epidermis;
• lacrimation, sneezing, runny nose;
• itching, redness in the mouth.

Symptoms of moderate severity worsen the patient's quality of life and lead to complications.

The following signs are most dangerous:

• Quincke's edema, in which swelling covers large areas - the face, throat, internal organs;
• bronchial asthma;
• extensive dermatitis;
• swelling of the eyelids with subsequent damage to other tissues of the eye.

Attention! In case of pronounced symptoms of Quincke's edema, urgently call an ambulance. If anyone in the family has an allergy, it is important to have an allergy medicine in your first aid kit.

How to deal with allergies

The main method of dealing with food allergies is by eliminating the food that causes it from the diet. Further, symptomatic treatment is carried out.

The most common allergy ointments

To eliminate skin manifestations of allergies, ointments, creams and gels are used. Each of the tools has a different degree of effectiveness. The most pronounced effect is exerted by hormonal agents, however, they have a large list of contraindications and side effects.

Common ointments for treating allergies:

1. "Fenistil" - relieves itching and redness, contains antihistamines, is indicated for use in childhood from the second month of life.
2. Zinc ointment has a drying effect, disinfects and promotes healing of affected areas, does not contain hormones, is safe for children.
3. "Bepanten" - promotes healing, eliminates excessive dryness in allergic dermatitis, has no contraindications, in rare cases it can cause allergies.
4. "Advantan" - a hormonal preparation of the latest generation, it is permissible to use it in childhood from four months, requires adherence to the dosage and duration of use, effectively suppresses allergic reactions on the skin.
5. "Gistan" - hormonal agent. Not recommended for long-term use and requires gradual withdrawal. It has a number of contraindications, in childhood it is used from two years old under the supervision of a doctor.

Folk recipes for allergies

For the treatment of skin manifestations of allergies, lotions, compresses, ointments with medicinal herbs and other natural ingredients are used.

The following plants have an antihistamine effect:

• pharmacy chamomile - in addition to the antiallergic effect, its decoction has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects;
• a series of pharmacy relieves the manifestation of allergies, suppresses the inflammatory process, disinfects;
• Yarrow accelerates the processes of tissue regeneration, reduces the manifestations of allergies.

With increased dryness and peeling of the skin, vegetable oils are used: olive, sunflower. To achieve a pronounced effect, lotions and compresses are used. It is not recommended to lubricate damaged skin areas with oil.

Attention! Before using medicinal herbs, consult your doctor and use the product on a small area of ​​the skin.Plants can also cause allergies.

Hypoallergenic diet

Avoiding pumpkin is the main treatment for food allergies. Exclude not only the main product, but also related vegetables.

The pumpkin family includes:

• melon;
• watermelon;
• cucumber;
• squash.

If you have a strong reaction to pumpkin, it is important to exclude prepared foods that contain pumpkin. These can be baby cereals, mashed potatoes, cereal bars. Such information is indicated on the packaging when describing the composition.

If the reaction is caused by the bright skin of a pumpkin, you should be wary of other red and orange vegetables: apples, tomatoes, peppers, carrots and others.

The most effective sorbents

For faster cleansing of the allergen from the body, the doctor may prescribe sorbents. The most popular are:

• Activated carbon;
• Enterosgel;
• Polysorb;
• "Atoxil".

Sorbents are taken as soon as possible after consuming the allergen, while it is in the digestive system. The drug binds fatty acids and reduces their absorption in the intestine.

Attention! Long-term intake of sorbents will lead to depletion of the body, the removal of not only toxins and allergens, but also useful substances.

Antihistamines

Antiallergic medications lower histamine levels and stop an attack. The most effective antihistamines include:

Prevention of allergies in adults

A pumpkin allergy may first appear in adulthood. A malfunction of the immune system is provoked by chronic gastrointestinal diseases, smoking, drinking alcohol and foods with a high content of artificial additives.

There are ways to reduce the amount of allergens in pumpkin:

• choose varieties of green, avoid bright orange vegetables;
• cut off the peel and select seeds;
• give preference to thermally processed vegetables.

Recommendations for parents

Pumpkin is not considered a highly allergenic food and is used as a complementary food for babies after six months. However, pediatricians advise to introduce the vegetable after zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower.

Start your pumpkin puree feeding with half a teaspoon. If there is no reaction, gradually increase the amount. To identify allergy tendencies and hazardous foods, keep a food diary.

Important! Prefer locally sourced seasonal vegetables and avoid imported products.

Reviews

Allergy to pumpkin, although a rare phenomenon, but reviews about it are found.

Olga, 29 years old: "Began to introduce pumpkin puree into complementary foods. The child has already tried zucchini and cauliflower. The next day after the first feed, I noticed spots on the thigh and in the elbows. She got scared and refused the pumpkin. The pediatrician prescribed Suprastin drops for us. Redness was smeared with "Bepanten".

Valentina, 41 years old: “Since childhood, I can't eat red and orange vegetables. Just a little - hives immediately appear. "Fenistil" saves from itching. The reaction does not appear to the green pumpkin, but just in case I cut off the peel from it and do not eat the seeds. "

Conclusion

Pumpkin can rarely cause true food allergies. The reason is the large amount of keratin in orange varieties and immunoglobulin E. The most dangerous are bright varieties and the use of raw vegetables.

The main treatment is a diet without vegetables of the pumpkin family. For relief of an attack and treatment of symptoms, antihistamines, sorbents, medicinal ointments are used.