Possible Banana Allergy?

[Christine]

Cool-Beans, what's the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?

An intolerance does not cause a histamine response--more like discomfort or the feeling that something doesn't agree with you.

For instance, people can be allergic to milk and get sick to their stomach, wheezing, and a rash (histamine response). Or they can be lactose-intolerant which means that when they consume milk or anything with lactose, they will have tummy upset, the "runs", gas, pain, rumbling etc.

An intolerance is never life threatening but an allergy can be.

 

[C.Ann]

This is interesting.. DD has a latex allergy - but bananas have never given her a problem.. She's also allergic to shrimp and is lactose intolerant..

Since she's allergic to latex - is it only a matter of time until she becomes allergic to bananas as well? What other allergies tend to "group" with the latex thing?

 

[Doe]

What other allergies tend to "group" with the latex thing?

My dd is allergic to kiwi (life threatening) and tomato (oral allergy). When we found out I was doing some reading and these were two foods associated with latex allergy which she doesn't have. I also recall avocado and chestnut were mentioned.

 

[Faerie]

Allergy (or intolerances) can come out of nowhere. I've had a strawberry allergy since I was 3. I have severe reactions to them. When I was 21, I suddenly became lactose intolerant. Now by body can't handly any dairy. it's a royal PITA but not an allergy. I've also had an intolerance to pineapple show up out of no where. I do get a rash from it, so I think it's a borderline allergy, but it makes eating at 'Ohana fun

 

[LaraK]

Not all allergies are anaphylactic in nature. Anaphylaxis is found in IgE protine allergies, but T-Cell allergies react differently. Eosinophilic disorders are related to T-Cell allergies and can cause long term damage to the affected organ.

 

[luvdiz2]

The first day of my honeymoon I was sick as a dog after eating a cheese omlet. I was only able to eat burger king my entire honeymoon - I tried eliminating everything one at a time. After a year, the Dr. decided it was lactose intolerance. Unfortunately, by myself, I found also uncooked brocoli, cauliflower and pineapple.

I tried all the lactose pills which never worked. I was literally incapacitiated by pain/gas/bloating/runs for 4 hours or better. I was advised by a health food store to try acidophollis (sp?). It took this stuff for approximately 3 months with every meal and stopped having trouble (except for the pineapple) - go figure!

My son, same thing, taking antibiotics for 8 out of 10 days - on day 8 he broke out in a rash all over his body - now he is suddenly allergic. We recognized from when he was bitten by a red ant in Florida - allergic to them as well (also bee stings) - very scary stuff!

Wow - did this post end up long - sorry!

 

[sha_lyn]

"Others develop banana allergy because of the similarity between the allergens in banana and natural rubber latex (e.g. gloves, condoms, balloons) a condition known as the latex-fruit syndrome. Symptoms developed by these individuals comprise generalised urticaria, abdominal pain, vomiting and sometimes life-threatening symptoms. These individuals often develop adverse reactions to chestnut, avocado, mango and kiwi."

Wow thanks...I knew about latex, banana and kiwi being related but not the others. I've never like bananas. They've always made me sick for as long as I can remember. I found out in my late teens that I was allergic to kiwi. Eventually I realized I needed to avoid a "certain" latex product as well when I wasn't taking BC pills because I was breastfeeding.
Now I find out better lay off the avacado and mango too.
I've also recently realized I can't eat sugar snap peas unless they are just about over cooked. I have to set aside a portion for me and nuke it to death after I cooked them for DD and DH.

 

[KariC]

Wow thanks...I knew about latex, banana and kiwi being related but not the others. I've never like bananas. They've always made me sick for as long as I can remember. I found out in my late teens that I was allergic to kiwi. Eventually I realized I needed to avoid a "certain" latex product as well when I wasn't taking BC pills because I was breastfeeding.Now I find out better lay off the avacado and mango too.
I've also recently realized I can't eat sugar snap peas unless they are just about over cooked. I have to set aside a portion for me and nuke it to death after I cooked them for DD and DH.

Me too....well, i wasn't breastfeeding then (but am right this minute), but delta lost my luggage with my bcp in it....and guess what....yep, allergic to those! I had always reacted to band aids/adhesives....(have a hard time w/some fem products).

 

[sha_lyn]

Yep.... didn't even think about bandaids a few months ago and ended up with what looked like a 2nd degree burn while I was treating a deep cut.

 

[suzannen]

Go to an allergy specialist. He/she will be able to do a skin patch test to see 1) if you do have an allergy and 2) how severe (they will actually measure the welts on your arms). They would also know which similar items (kiwi, mango, latex) to test on you as well. Good luck!

 

[Doesney]

One night about 12 or so years ago, I ate a bannana shortly before bed. I awoke to the most horrible pains in my stomach and vomiting. I really have never been so ill. My dh wanted to bring me to the ER. I called my mom and she asked what I ate and I told her a bannana, she said that would do it before bed. I know I am not allergic because I have since eaten them, but not at night.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Our daughter LOVES bananas -- would eat one every day after school. Eventually she got to the point where (out of the blue) her lips swelled, her tongue was itchy and she had trouble swallowing. Her body was covered n hives. LUCKY we have an epi-pen for other allergies, gave us enough time to get to ER!!

We have bought her a certain "latex-free" product to carry with her since I feel strongly that she needs to be responsible for her self!

OH side noter: when I called Medical-alert and told them she is also allergic to Pork they told me that I was the 3th person that day to report the SAME combination -- weird eh?

 

[Sleepy]

My son can't eat bananas. When he was a toddler, they gave him the runs. As an older child and even now, if he eats one, his ears get hot and about as red as the color of Mickey's pants. It took us a long time to figure out what was causing the problem. The way I associated the problem to a food was a friend of mine said corn chips caused her son's ears to do the same thing.

 

[sha_lyn]

DS's ear used to do that but we never figured out why

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Well I skipped the Banana but ate everything else the same as I did last night and guess what....no pain, no welts, no tummy ache, no bloating or vomitting. Hum. And how strange is this, I didn't even think about it and handled some balloons for a co-workers party tomorrow and my hands got red and itchy. You guessed it Latex, guess I'll be calling the Doctor tomorrow.

Another co-worker is having a similar issue, developed an allergy to something within the past two weeks, each night her face swells after dinner sometimes just after sitting at work. Still trying to track down her culpert.

 

[fltwinmom]

OP, I'm sorry to hear of your "banana troubles".



I'd die if I couldn't have a dirty banana. My fav drink of all time.

FWIW, I developed a very sudden alergy to fish Grouper, Snapper, etc. But NOT tuna.

It's bizzarre, but remember the movie "Hitch". Yeah, that's me, after eating fish.