Dates can cause allergic reactions. Date allergy is not common and can have different symptoms. Studies show allergic reactions to date are because of protein in date fruit or palm tree powder. Everyone can develop date allergy there’s been signs of date allergy in babies too and symptoms are the same with adults. Most known symptoms of date allergy are concerned with date allergy rash or date allergy stomach pain problems. In this article we are going to talk about date allergy symptoms and how to diagnose date allergy.
Date allergy symptoms
Symptoms can be vary but most people experience:
- Itchy throat
- Lips redness or swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
- Skin rash
- Eye sensitivity such as, eye reddening
- Runny nose
- Tiredness
- Nausea and Puking
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Diarrhea
If you’re allergic to dates you may experience these reactions 15 to 60 minutes after consuming them.
Date allergy different types
- IgE-mediated allergy : this is the most common type of food allergy. In this type of food allergy our immune system reacts to protein in date fruit and produces an antibody named immunoglobulin E (IgE).
- Non-IgE-mediated allergy: this is another type of food allergy but it’s different from immunoglobulin E (IgE) and a group of disorders cause allergic reactions to date.
- Cross-reactivity : this type of allergic reaction to date mostly happens when you are allergic to other fruits for instance : apples or pears.
- Palm tree powder allergy : some people show allergic reactions to palm tree pollen. Symptoms of this allergy are the same with date allergy.
- Sulfite sensitivity : there is sulfite in dried dates. Sulfite can cause allergic reactions but you should know that this type of allergy is really rare.
Date allergy diagnosis test
If you think you are allergic to dates you should talk to an allergist. There are different types of tests that you can take for diagnosing date allergy. Some of the most common ones are:
Skin prick test ( scratch test or percutaneous test ) : in this test date extract is pricked into your skin and if you’re allergic to dates your skin will show an allergic reaction when it’s touched by date extract ( your skin will itch or a bump may raise on your skin)
RAST test (Radioallergosorbent test): as we said one of the date allergy types is IgE-mediated allergy RAST test is a blood test that measures the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in the blood. Mostly this test is used as an alternative for skin prick test because some people can’t tolerate skin prick test.test.
Date allergy treatment
If you are allergic, the best way to avoid the side effects is to not consume dates or products which contain dates and always check the labels before buying them and make sure people around you are aware that you’re allergic to dates because you may eat dates accidentally.
Most of the time there’s no need for treatment but in severe cases you should take professional help cause it can be dangerous. Sometimes doctors will prescribe Antihistamines for skin conditions caused by date allergy.
