Low in calories and high in vitamins, bell pepper can jazz up salad and taste your pizza fantastic. But, substances packed in this food can trigger bell pepper allergy.
When your immune system reacts to harmless food substances food allergic reaction stimulates. According to Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network food allergy is common in children than adults.
Proteins in bell pepper are treated as a threat by immune system. In turn it releases IgE antibodies to detect them. Histamines released by immune system react with these proteins resulting in allergic symptoms.
Bell Pepper Allergy Symptoms
Allergic signs can be experienced after few hours of ingesting bell pepper. In some cases hypersensitive people may see allergic symptoms on second time usage. Researchers say that even inhaling and coming in contact with bell pepper may trigger allergic reaction in hypersensitive people.
Symptoms include:
- Skin rashes
- Redness
- Itching
- Eczema
- Facial swelling
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Shortness of breathe
- Vomiting
- Swelling of tongue and mouth
- Asthma
- Tingling sensation around mouth
- Low blood pressure
- Nausea
- Gastrointestinal problem
- Lightheadedness
Severe symptoms include difficulty in breathing and dizziness, which may lead to life threatening conditions.
Oral Allergy Syndrome
People who’ve allergic rhinitis, runny nose or itchy eyes experience oral allergy syndrome when they come in contact with localized pollen. Itching and burning sensation around mouth are common signs that a person will experience when he ingest bell pepper.
Other food substances that carry localized pollen or proteins of bell pepper, allergic reaction may trigger.
Diagnosis
You can confirm that you’re allergic to certain food substance right away. Allergist will conduct necessary diagnosis to determine the allergen.
He will expose your skin to different allergen to confirm the substance that lead to allergy. A portion of skin will be scratched with bell pepper to see the reaction. Oral or topical medication will be prescribed accordingly.
Avoiding Bell Pepper
Over the counter medicines can reduce symptoms of allergy, but when you ingest or touch bell pepper, allergy triggers again.
So, best way to treat bell pepper allergy is to avoid the food substance in any form. Salads, pizza and other processed foods that include this food ingredient must be avoided. Never knew even small amount can trigger severe allergy.
Anti-histamines and other medications must be carried in emergency situation. Epinephrine injection must be carried after discussing with allergist.