Tomato Allergy
Tomato Allergy Symptoms
Although it is considered to be relatively rare, a tomato allergy can develop in certain people. These types of allergies can be annoying and troublesome, and in some cases even dangerous. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a tomato allergy can help you determine if you have this type of allergy and allow you to avoid the effects of it.
An allergy is the body’s overreaction to a perceived invader. When this invader, called an allergen comes into contact with the body, the immune system mistakenly sees it as a threat and releases histamine to attack it. It is this histamine that causes the symptoms people with allergies suffer from. The allergen in a tomato is a specific protein found in the skin, seeds and juice of the fruit. Tomatoes are in the Deadly Nightshade family, which also includes potatoes, eggplants and tobacco, so a person experiencing an allergy to tomatoes will most likely be allergic to these plants as well. A tomato allergy is considered to be a Type 1 form of allergy and is a contact allergy. This means a reaction will occur if the person has any contact with a tomato, whether they ingest it or simply touch it. Some people may even experience allergy symptoms from processed tomato products like ketchup. Food allergies can vary in severity and may be dose related.
Food allergies are often confused with food intolerances. These are similar in nature but food intolerance symptoms are less severe than food allergy symptoms. Some symptoms of a tomato allergy include a tingling of the lips and swelling of the mouth when the fruit is ingested. This may become more severe and lead to chest constriction, difficulty breathing, a swelling of the throat, vomiting and diarrhea. Contact on the skin may cause hives or skin rashes to develop. In very serious cases of allergies, a life threatening condition known as anaphylactic shock may occur. It needs emergency medical treatment immediately.
You can determine if you have a tomato allergy by keeping a record of symptoms you may get after coming into contact with certain foods. These symptoms may appear in minutes or hours after the initial contact and may get worse over the years. A doctor or allergy specialist may also be able to determine specific food allergies using blood tests to check for allergen antibodies, or by performing a skin test. A skin test involves subjecting the skin to small amounts of different allergens and determining if the immune system responds to each one. By keep track of specific symptoms that occur with specific foods, you can help your doctor to determine your exact food allergies.
The best treatment for tomato allergies is to avoid the fruit and tomato products entirely. There are also many anti-histamine products available to help treat the symptoms. You may want to look up some tomato free recipes and check with restaurants before ordering to see if their dishes contain tomatoes. In severe allergy cases, it may be wise to carry an adrenaline pen with you at all times to treat anaphylactic shock. Some home remedies may also help provide relief from allergies. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that promotes healing in the body, vitamin E helps aid the immune system and pantotheric acid is considered to be helpful in controlling allergies. These are available as supplements and may help with allergy symptoms.
Understanding which specific foods can cause you to develop allergy symptoms will help you to create a lifestyle where you can avoid contact with these foods. A tomato allergy is not necessarily the end of the world; some simple steps can help you to avoid the negative effects of this allergy type.