watermelon allergy

[Cogswel_Cogs]

If a melon is really tasty is there a chance that it is more likely to cause allergic reaction.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

If a melon is really tasty is there a chance that it is more likely to cause allergic reaction.

I kind of have a slight allergy to melon (although I don't test allergic to it) and I do find the riper the melon is the more it will bother me. It also depends on were the melon was grown. For some reason catelope I can eat if it comes from Georgia and are the more homegrown looking ones than the ones that are grown around were I live. Watermelon I can eat a small amount before my mouth starts to itch and my sinuses get all swollen.

 

[mickeysgal]

Interesting question. All I know is my son is allergic to watermelon and bananas. My daughter is allergic to cherries - as of this summer - she never had a problem before. Both cause their mouth/tongues to itch. Allergist called it an oral allergy and that they can safely each these fruits if they are cooked in something. Not sure if it varies based on how ripe or if it's a better quality fruit.

 

[bumbershoot]

Interesting question. All I know is my son is allergic to watermelon and bananas. My daughter is allergic to cherries - as of this summer - she never had a problem before. Both cause their mouth/tongues to itch. Allergist called it an oral allergy and that they can safely each these fruits if they are cooked in something. Not sure if it varies based on how ripe or if it's a better quality fruit.

If they eat organic fruits are they OK?

Twice while living in SC I bought peaches from roadside stands, and my mouth and lips went entirely NUMB while eating them.

Never happened before or since, but I make sure to buy organic peaches ONLY now, b/c I feel strongly that it was a chemical reaction to the pesticides. (I never tended to wash fruits before eating back then)

 

[Imzadi]

You gals have Oral Allergy Syndrome. Check out this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2358213

 

[Christine]

We thought my son had oral allergy syndrome because he's just started itching with cherries and melon. When he was in to see the allergist (he does have other food allergies), the allergist said, "Oh, no big deal, this is probably OAS (which is on the rise), but I'll test you." Sure enough, he has mild allergies to both cherries and melon now. So, it's not ALWAYS OAS.

 

[Imzadi]

We thought my son had oral allergy syndrome because he's just started itching with cherries and melon. When he was in to see the allergist (he does have other food allergies), the allergist said, "Oh, no big deal, this is probably OAS (which is on the rise), but I'll test you." Sure enough, he has mild allergies to both cherries and melon now. So, it's not ALWAYS OAS.

I'm glad you were able to narrow it down in your DS's case. having OAS is a bummer. There are so many fruits I can't have anymore.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm glad I stumbled across this thread. Watermelon gives me the worst migraines ever (can be 3 days of misery) but the fact makes no sense. When I look at a watermelon I think to myself, "Nothing in a watermelon but sugar, water and cellulose" so I stubbornly eat it, then suffer. Even my Dr's are stumped and can't give me any explanation. At least I'm not alone so that makes me feel a little bit better. In my case it seems the less I eat towards the white part the less intense the headache will be, so the fruit near the rind seems to be trouble for me. What a pain.

 

[minniebeth]

There can be strong food allergy relationships that unless you are aware of from experience, many don't know about. I am highly allergic to avacados, only in the past few years. My allergist told me to stay away from bananas too, even though I'm fine eating them, there is a strong relationship between avacados and bananas. Then last week I ate a slice of watermelon and had an allergic reaction. I googled watermelon allergy and found that a high percentage of people who are allergic to watermelon are allergic to avacados. Go figure. It's crazy!

 

[mickeysgal]

There can be strong food allergy relationships that unless you are aware of from experience, many don't know about. I am highly allergic to avacados, only in the past few years. My allergist told me to stay away from bananas too, even though I'm fine eating them, there is a strong relationship between avacados and bananas. Then last week I ate a slice of watermelon and had an allergic reaction. I googled watermelon allergy and found that a high percentage of people who are allergic to watermelon are allergic to avacados. Go figure. It's crazy!

Somewhere, I've read that being allergic to bananas may also mean you're allergic to latex. Has anyone ever heard that?

And why are oral allergies on the rise? I don't ever remember knowing someone that was allergic to fruit and know it seems that so many people have a story about this.

 

[NotUrsula]

My mother had the bananas / latex relationship going on. I'm slightly allergic to both -- they both make me itch, but not to the point of coming out in hives. I avoid bananas, and I try to limit how long I'm exposed to latex (gloves are OK, bandages are not).

To my knowlege I'm not allergic to watermelon, but very oddly, the only two times I've ever eaten it salted (years apart, mind you), my mouth immediately erupted in blisters. I'm definitely not ever again letting anyone try to convince me that salt on watermelon is good.

 

[minniebeth]

Like NotUrsula said, yes, there can be a relationship between bananas and the like and latex...I never knew this, but certain fruits contain natural latex and that makes the correlation to man-made latex products such as gloves, bandages, etc.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Would Latex allergy and Sunscreen be similar substance?

 

[AndreaDM]

I had never heard of a watermelon allergy until a kid in my daughter's class was diagnosed with it. It's so severe they have signs posted on all the school doors that no watermelon is permitted in the building. They're taking it even more seriously than the peanut allergies in the school.

 

[luvmy3]

Somewhere, I've read that being allergic to bananas may also mean you're allergic to latex. Has anyone ever heard that?

And why are oral allergies on the rise? I don't ever remember knowing someone that was allergic to fruit and know it seems that so many people have a story about this.

It seems all allergies are on the rise, not just oral.

My ds has OAS but also has seasonal and LTFA to almonds. Because of his seasonal allergies there is a long list of fruits and veggies that could cause an OAS reaction. Some fruits are more bothersome than others, like apples but thats because he is highly allergic to birch trees.