Melon Allergy
Melon is a nutritious food with health benefits. However, some people may be allergic to melon. The immune system perceives a harmless substance in melon as harmful, causing an allergic reaction to melon. When the immune system encounters these substances that it considers harmful, it releases histamine and as a result, symptoms of an allergic reaction occur.
Melon allergy can be seen in children and adults. Some foods are associated with certain environmental allergens. For example, if you are allergic to various types of melon, you will likely also experience allergic rhinitis caused by ragweed pollen. If you are affected by oral allergy symptoms when you eat fresh fruit such as melon, you may experience itching, burning, or stinging sensations in the mouth, throat, and tongue as your body reacts to the fruit's proteins. Symptoms usually last only a few seconds or minutes because the proteins that cause symptoms are quickly broken down by saliva.
Melon Allergy Symptoms
The severity of melon allergy symptoms may vary from person to person. Symptoms of melon allergy can range from mild to very severe, and often exposure to very small amounts of melon can trigger an allergic reaction.
Symptoms of melon allergy include:
- itching in the mouth,
- Tingling sensation in the mouth,
- swelling of the face,
- swelling of the throat,
- lips or tongue,
- itchy skin,
- Diarrhea,
- nausea or vomiting,
- Wheezing,
- difficulty breathing,
- Nasal congestion.
In cases where melon allergy is very severe, a serious reaction known as anaphylaxis may occur. Anaphylaxis is a very serious condition and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
narrowing of the airways,
Severe tongue or throat swelling that prevents breathing,
Critical drop in blood pressure that can cause shock
Weak pulse,
rapid pulse,
Dizziness,
lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness.
When anaphylaxis is not treated immediately, it can lead to coma or even death.
Melon Allergy and Melon Intolerance
A food intolerance mimics a food allergy, but the two conditions are different. Food allergies are usually more severe. If you are intolerant or sensitive to melon, you can continue to eat small amounts of melon without any reaction. Symptoms that develop in melon sensitivity are related to the digestive system. . In short, if large amounts of melon upset your stomach, you probably have an intolerance to it. Still, if a small amount of melon upsets your stomach and causes itching or non-digestive systems, you're probably allergic. Melon allergy is a condition related to the immune system.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Melon Allergy
Your allergist may perform various tests to diagnose melon allergy. Methods such as blood test, skin prick test, food challenge test may be among the methods your allergist will use. The blood test checks the amount of antibodies in your blood. In the skin prick test, a small amount of melon allergen is placed under your skin and the findings are observed. If there are symptoms such as redness or blistering in the application area, it can be concluded that you are allergic. During the food challenge test, your allergist may ask you to eat melon. This test should be done under the supervision of an allergist and in a medical center. In this way, your doctor will be able to personally observe your symptoms after eating melon. The most important point is that people with melon allergies should stay away from melon. However, sometimes you may be exposed to an allergen without realizing it. For situations where melon allergy may lead to critical situations, your allergist may prescribe you an adrenaline auto-injector if he deems it appropriate. Your allergist will provide you with training on how to use this syringe and the situations in which it should be used. You can also use antihistamine medications with your doctor's recommendation to relieve the disturbing symptoms of melon allergy. These medications do not prevent allergic reactions, they only relieve the symptoms.
