Public Service Announcement: Watch out for mangos

[Towncrier]

Last week, the local grocery store chain had fresh mangos on sale, 10 for $10. My wife recalled how much she had enjoyed the mangos that she had eaten in the past, so she bought three. Thursday night, she decided to peel and eat one of the mangos while watching TV. Friday morning, she awoke to find that her lips and tongue were a bit swollen and her face was red. She went to work anyway. By that evening, things had gone from bad to worse. She took some benedryl and went to sleep. She awoke at midnight and contemplated going to the emergency room. Only she didn't want to bother me or either of our teenage kids, so she took some more benedryl and went back to sleep on the couch downstairs. By Saturday morning, her tongue and lips were so swollen that, when she called the doctor's office, the receptionist could barely understand her. They suggested that she go stright to the ER. Sue was going to drive herself, but by now her face was so swollen that she could barely see out of her left eye. Her face looked like she had held a hot iron against it. I got dressed quickly and drove her to the ER. They were able to see her right away. Fortunately, she had NOT had any breathing troubles and it appeared that the worst was over. They gave her some prednisone and sent her home. Sue was miserable all weekend. She made an early morning appointment with the doctor and I reluctantly left for work. At least our son was home today and he could take her to the doctor.

I got to work and did a quick google search for "mango allergy" and discovered that the mango tree is related to sumac, poison oak, and poison ivy. And that people who have had a bad reaction to poison ivy can become sensitized to the skin of the mango fruit. Where was the warning sign at the store??? (Just kidding)

So the oils on the skin of the mango may have gotten into Sue's mouth while she was eatting. She probably rubbed her eye and her face while peeling the fruit as she has seasonal allergies and is often touching her face. I guess it was as if she had rubbed her face in a patch of poison ivy. Ouch. I suppose that the only good news is that it was probably not the actual fruit to which she had an allergic reaction (although I doubt that she will ever voluntarily eat anything with mangos ever again).

The doctor warned her to have someone else in the family thoroughly clean anywhere the mangos may have touched the countertops in our kitchen. He gave her a prescription for some more prednisone and for some anti-itch cream for her face.

So for those of you who are thinking of trying mangos, please watch out for the peels.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Ohhh your poor wife, gald to hear that she is feeling better.

 

[Virgo10]

Yikes! I never would have thought mangos could give you a reaction like that.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

 

[helenabear]

Poor Sue!!!! I feel so bad for her going through all that!

Luis loves mangos... though we have a harder time finding good ones in the US. I had no clue about that either!!!! I guess neither of us have much troulbe with poison oak or poison ivy since I know we've both handled them quite a bit.

I hope Sue does feel better soon!

 

[alabamaalan]

Wow, how frightening! I'm glad to hear all is okay.

 

[Talking Hands]

Yikes! I never would have thought mangos could give you a reaction like that.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

I have had the unhappy experience of reacting to mango. I can't have mangoes at all as they cause breathing problems and swelling of my throat. Very nasty feeling. Doesn't matter if someone else peels them just the fruit will cause me to react.

 

[kimmar067]

OMG! So glad that she is feeling batter....

 

[MomofKatie]

Wow, so sorry your DW had that happen to her!

My mom has the same bad mango allergy. When I was a young girl, we lived for a couple of years in Puerto Rico, where mango trees grow everywhere. We had a family friend with several mango trees in their backyard, and Mom couldn't go near them- her eyes and throat would swell terribly! It took a visit to the ER shortly after we moved to PR to figure it out- the Drs there said it was not an uncommom allergy.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Wow I had no idea! I hope your DW is finally feeling better, and thanks so much for posting about this. Pretty interesting.

 

[Evil Queen]

Oh I hope she feels better.

When I had my horses, the field had a small mango grove on it. My horse loved mangos! But he was so sloppy when he ate them, flung the juice and fruit all around. I had to stay away because it bothered my skin. I never had a desire to taste one.

 

[Keli]

Don't you know I would read this now, AFTER I bought a mango for my boss and have already given it to her! If she has a reaction to that thing I'll never hear the end of it. Months from now I'll be hearing her tell someone the story of how I tried to kill her with fruit!

 

[tw1nsmom]

If you have a reaction to Mangos, you may also want to be cautious with cashews, pistachios, and macadamia nuts. DH is allergic to all of them and was told that they share the same chemical properties and if you're allergic to one you may be allergic to the others.

 

[Evil Queen]

If you have a reaction to Mangos, you may also want to be cautious with cashews, pistachios, and macadamia nuts. DH is allergic to all of them and was told that they share the same chemical properties and if you're allergic to one you may be allergic to the others.

I did not know that, thank you.

The only thing I have eaten that I've shown any reaction to is poppy seeds, and I LOVE poppy seed bagels.

 

[dmslush]

DD and I both are highly allergic to poison ivy and have been told repeately by physicians to stay far away from anything with Mango in it. I, too, think they should put warnings up in the stores.

 

[dizneenut]

Poor Sue. Hope she's feeling better.

 

[Marseeya]

Wow, I had no idea!

I must have been lucky in the past, because I'm extremely allergic to poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac, but I've eaten a lot of mangos and had no problems at all. I'm not all that careful either.

I hope she's feeling better!

 

[Mrs.Milo]

John, so glad to hear Sue is doing better, PD on the way. Allergies can be scary.

 

[Towncrier]

Sue is feeling better. The anti-itch cream that the doctor prescribed is helping her deal with the rash on her face. DD Sarah and I disposed of the other two mangos and cleaned up the kitchen counters. Sue's biggest concern now is graduation photos with our son. The ceremony is less than two weeks away and she isn't sure that the rash on her face will be gone by then. If that is her biggest worry, then I suppose that we are out of the woods. Thanks for all the good wishes for Sue. I'll make sure to pass them on to her.

 

[Poohbear123]

My DS Patrick is highly allergic to Mango's, only he breaks out in a horrible rash all over his arms and stomach area. He cannot even touch a mango, and we live in Mango City!