Content
- 1 Can you be allergic to pumpkin?
- 2 Why pumpkin can cause allergies
- 3 Is pumpkin an allergen after heat treatment?
- 4 Can you be allergic to pumpkin seeds?
- 5 Symptoms of a pumpkin allergy
- 6 Is it possible to eat pumpkin if you have allergies?
- 7 What measures to take at the first signs
- 8 When to see a doctor urgently
- 9 Conclusion
Allergies to pumpkin are so rare that this crop is considered hypoallergenic. This, as well as the rich vitamin composition of pumpkin, contributes to the fact that they try to include the vegetable in the diet of newborn children as early as possible. Its fruits contain vitamins K and T, which are quite rare, as well as easily digestible sugar, which is important to consider when organizing nutrition for infants. In addition, pumpkin is rich in various minerals, fats and proteins, however, even such a healthy vegetable can in rare cases cause a protective reaction in the body.
Can you be allergic to pumpkin?
Pumpkin most often provokes allergies in humans with individual intolerance to the vegetable, however, such rejection is extremely rare. That is why for a long time it was believed that pumpkin is not allergenic, which is completely wrong.
The most dangerous ones include varieties with brightly colored peel and pulp, while pale pumpkins are practically harmless. Fruits with a rich orange color are dangerous for allergy sufferers to the same extent as citrus fruits or tomatoes.
If a child has an allergic reaction to pumpkin in infancy or early childhood, it is possible that as they grow older, the body will no longer reject this crop.
Can pumpkin cause allergies in a child?
Due to their developed immune system, adults rarely experience an allergic reaction to vegetable components. This cannot be said about children, especially infants. Their immunity and digestive system are not yet fully formed, so they are simply not able to absorb some of the components contained in the fruits. Various degrees of rejection inevitably occur at some point, usually 2-4 hours after eating the vegetable
Why pumpkin can cause allergies
Pumpkin can cause allergies in humans for one of the following reasons:
- individual intolerance to the elements contained in this culture;
- the presence of specific proteins in pumpkin that can be rejected by the human body (the proportion of these proteins in pumpkin seeds is especially high);
- beta-carotene, which is found in large quantities in bright fruits - it is this substance that gives the fruits a rich orange color;
- chemicals (pesticides, fungicides, etc.), which are sometimes abused by unscrupulous gardeners;
- natural proteins, in particular protein f225, are the main allergens of pumpkin, along with beta-carotene.
Before including pumpkin in your child’s diet, you should make sure that his parents are not allergic to the vegetable.
Is pumpkin an allergen after heat treatment?
In adults, an allergy to pumpkin manifests itself mainly when eating a raw vegetable. After heat treatment, a fully formed organism in most cases ceases to reject pumpkin dishes - we can say that the product becomes hypoallergenic, albeit only for adults.
This does not apply to children. Despite the fact that it is recommended to include vegetables in a child’s diet only after heat treatment (boiling, steaming, stewing, etc.), it does not guarantee the absence of an allergic reaction. Most of the allergens contained in vegetables are destroyed under the influence of high temperatures, however, a significant percentage still remains.
Can you be allergic to pumpkin seeds?
If a person is allergic to vegetable pulp, most likely it also extends to pumpkin seeds, since they contain a large amount of difficult-to-digest proteins. In addition, an allergic reaction can be triggered by eating other melons:
- melons;
- watermelon;
- cucumber;
- zucchini;
- squash.
Symptoms of a pumpkin allergy
The main symptoms of pumpkin allergy, which occur in both adults and children, include the following body reactions:
- rash of varying degrees of intensity;
- itching of the skin;
- severe swelling in the throat area;
- causeless incessant cough, which is in no way related to a cold, and runny nose;
- disruption of the digestive system (change in stool);
- pain in the abdominal area;
- numerous eczemas on the body;
- nausea, vomiting;
- excessive tearing for no apparent reason.
In infants
Pumpkin allergy most often occurs in infants. Despite the fact that they are not yet able to eat pumpkin products on their own, the allergens contained in it can enter the baby’s body through breast milk.
The following reactions indicate that a child is allergic to pumpkin:
- the appearance of red spots on the skin, small rashes (the main places where the rash is concentrated are the baby’s cheeks, elbows and knees);
- itching in the area covered with rash and redness;
- hives;
- bowel dysfunction (diarrhea, constipation);
- vomit;
- swelling of the face;
- cough.
Symptoms of a pumpkin allergy can manifest in different ways. Most often, an allergic reaction occurs in a baby within 30-40 minutes after allergenic components enter the body, but sometimes it takes 2-3 days. In the second case, it is difficult to understand what exactly caused the child’s allergy, so at the first signs of an allergic reaction it is recommended to consult a specialist.
In children
An allergy to pumpkin in a teenage child is in many ways similar to the allergic reactions of infants. The only significant difference is the greater predisposition to Quincke's edema - it occurs much more often in adolescents than in infants.
Sensitivity to pumpkin peaks during puberty, when children experience severe hormonal imbalances. Over time, an allergy to pumpkin may weaken or even disappear completely. It often happens that a food allergy to pumpkin manifests itself in children in the form of diathesis.
At the first signs of an allergy, it is recommended to exclude the vegetable from the child’s diet and consult a doctor. After some time, you can try to reintroduce pumpkin into the diet, but gradually, carefully observing how the child reacts to the product.
In adults
In adults, an allergy to pumpkin practically does not occur. If the body nevertheless rejects the components that make up the pumpkin, the manifestations of an allergic reaction are most often quite weak. The area of redness and rash is relatively small, the itching is moderate. Severe form of manifestation - disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, eczema, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock.
Degrees of reaction
The following degrees of allergic reaction to pumpkin can be distinguished:
- Redness of the skin.
- Small rash, itching.
- Runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- If nothing is done, the rash can develop into hives - flat, dark pink blisters that can cover various parts of the body in large quantities.
- Acute pain in the abdomen, indigestion, flatulence.Painful sensations can be caused by Quincke's edema in the intestinal area. Prolonged vomiting and stool disturbances are considered especially dangerous in case of allergies, since in this case a person begins to lose a large amount of fluid and nutrients.
- Swelling of the mucous membranes of the larynx.
- Atopic dermatitis, severe itching, eczema - redness of the skin, accompanied by thickening, excessive exfoliation.
- Quincke's edema is one of the most dangerous manifestations of pumpkin allergy. The most likely areas of swelling include the mucous membranes, skin, larynx and intestines. Swelling of the mucous membrane is dangerous because the allergy in this case causes suffocation. Without timely medical care, Quincke's edema can be fatal.
Separately, it is worth noting the most dangerous manifestation of an allergy to pumpkin - anaphylactic shock, which can develop in a matter of seconds after the onset of an allergic reaction. Signs of anaphylactic shock:
- dyspnea;
- cold sweat;
- disturbance of urination;
- fainting;
- swelling;
- redness;
- a sharp drop in blood pressure;
- sharp pain in the abdominal area.
Is it possible to eat pumpkin if you have allergies?
There is a widespread misconception online that allergy sufferers can eat pumpkin. This is only partly true - pumpkin does not cause an allergic reaction in adults after heat treatment, becoming completely hypoallergenic for them. Children with an allergy to pumpkin should not eat the vegetable in any form, even after boiling or frying. Despite the fact that the degree of fetal rejection becomes less, pumpkin remains allergic to children even after exposure to high temperatures.
What measures to take at the first signs
At the first sign of an allergy to pumpkin, you should take the following measures:
- Pumpkin is completely excluded from the diet until an accurate diagnosis is made. Subsequently, you can try to introduce the vegetable into your diet, in small quantities. Sometimes allergies go away as you get older.
- For minor manifestations of allergies, it is recommended to use antihistamines: Eden, Loratadine, Zyrtec.
- Lokoid and Sinaflan ointments are suitable for itching and rash, as well as mild swelling.
- Inflammatory processes on the skin can be cured with the help of lotions based on chamomile infusion. For this, 4 tsp. dry chamomile pour 0.5 liters of boiling water.
- Rosehip infusion helps restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and relieve swelling. It is prepared according to this scheme: 100 g of berries are poured into 1 liter of boiling water and infused for several hours. The infusion is taken orally, ½ tbsp. l. half an hour before meals.
When to see a doctor urgently
Despite the fact that some allergy symptoms can be relieved on your own, there are cases when the help of a specialist is urgently needed - these are anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema, which can be fatal if proper measures are not taken in time. In addition, consultation with a doctor is necessary even for relatively harmless symptoms: itching, rash, gastrointestinal disturbances, etc.
The fact is that the symptoms of pumpkin allergy may partially overlap with the clinical picture of other diseases, which complicates self-diagnosis of the problem.A single symptom does not necessarily mean the presence of an allergic reaction - for example, nausea and vomiting after eating a pumpkin dish can be caused by stale products included in its composition, and not by possible allergens.
An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a specialist who prescribes a series of tests. In particular, whether there is an allergic reaction to pumpkin or not is often determined using small incisions on the skin. A small amount of a possible allergen is applied to them. If a person is allergic to pumpkin, within 2-3 hours the body’s corresponding reaction to the test occurs: rash, itching, nausea, etc. In addition, a diagnosis can be made fairly quickly based on the results of a blood test.
You can learn more about the specifics of providing first aid at the first signs of an allergy from the video below:
Conclusion
Allergies to pumpkin are extremely rare, which is why there is a misconception that the vegetable does not contain any allergens. Despite the fact that the body of adults practically does not reject the components contained in pumpkin, children, especially infants, react quite sharply to the product. In such cases, the consumption of the crop should be sharply limited or completely excluded from the child’s diet. You can reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction in a child by heat treating the fruit pulp, however, this does not always guarantee a positive outcome.
