What is Latex-Fruit Allergy ?-It is quite possible to encounter certain allergies to fruits and vegetables?
This may concern the group of fruits and seeds with latex. In fact, this cross-reaction is called a fruit-latex syndrome.
Some people who are allergic to latex encounter a high sensitivity in these foods and you must, therefore, be very careful with fruits that you will eat fresh because there may be traces of latex.
Latex-fruit allergy
Over the past decade, latex allergy has been recognized as a very important medical problem. Many studies have focused on allergic cross-reactions between aeroallergens and food. In this context, there is now clear evidence of the existence of a significant clinical association between latex and fruit allergies. Therefore, the latex-fruit syndrome has been established.
Several studies have shown that 20% to 60% of patients with latex allergies have reactions to a wide variety of foods, mainly fruits. Although the foods involved vary from study to study, bananas, avocados, chestnuts, and kiwis are the most common. The clinical manifestations of these reactions can vary from oral allergy syndrome to severe anaphylactic reactions, which are not uncommon, which underscores the clinical relevance of this syndrome.
What is Latex-Fruit Allergy ?
The diagnosis of food hypersensitivity associated with a latex allergy is based on the clinical history of immediate adverse effects, suggesting IgE-mediated sensitivity. The bite test with the fresh foods involved in the reactions shows an 80% agreement with the clinical diagnosis, and therefore it seems to be the best diagnostic test available today to confirm the suspicion of latex-fruit allergy.
Once the diagnosis has been made, a diet free from the offending fruits is compulsory. Recently, some of the common allergens responsible for cross-reactions between latex and fruits most frequently involved in the syndrome have been identified. Class I chitinases, whose domain resembles that of N-terminal hevein, which react with hevein, a major latex allergen, seem to be the panallergens responsible for the latex-fruit syndrome.
Examples of fruits from the latex group with the risk of allergy
What is Latex-Fruit Allergy?
- Kiwi.
- Avocados.
- Melon.
- Mango.
- Peach.
- Bananas.
- Pineapple.
- the lawyer.
- Passion Fruit.
- Figs
- Cherries
- Strawberries
are fruits that present the most risk of allergy due to the presence of latex. You will, therefore, have to be vigilant about these foods. We have prepared some explanations for the symptoms to help you identify this type of allergy.
Latex Fruit Allergy Symptoms
If you have an allergy to fruit containing latex, you will quickly see some symptoms. This can result in a form of hives, eczema, or breathing problems like asthma and rhinitis. But it happens that some people have gastric disorders like nausea, diarrhea or even vomiting.
In some very rare cases, you may have anaphylactic shock but this is not the main symptom for an allergy. So don’t worry.
How to diagnose this type of allergy?
If you encounter one or more symptoms that may show a certain allergy to the fruits of the latex group, you will have to react as soon as possible to find out if this is well linked. You can contact your doctor and make an appointment with an allergist to have a skin screening or blood test.
You can for example with a prick test which is a deposit of a few drops of allergenic extracts on your forearm. You will then have a sample of your epidermis to find out if you are allergic or not to certain substances.
The patch test will put a bandage in contact with your skin to see if certain allergens cause reactions. This can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours.
Finally, the blood test will help identify the antibodies responsible for your reactions, that is, immunoglobulins E.
How to manage latex fruit allergy?
The treatment for latex allergy is avoidance to avoid an allergy attack. There is the possibility of immunotherapy, i.e. vaccination with latex proteins to promote desensitization.
Once the latex allergy is diagnosed, the basis of treatment is the total avoidance of any latex product. This can be very difficult, due to the large number of products around us that contain latex.
Allergic reactions to latex are treated like any other allergic reaction, with appropriate medication to reduce the symptoms of the reaction. Mild reactions usually go away with antihistamines, corticosteroids, and / or bronchodilator inhalers, but severe reactions require the administration of adrenaline quickly after the start of the reaction. Patients must have self-injecting adrenaline to be able to administer it if necessary.
In recent years, a sublingual vaccine has been developed to treat latex allergy. Although it has been shown to reduce the clinical sensitivity of patients, undesirable effects have been detected, which means that its use has not yet been widespread.