Can kiwi trigger an allergy in a teenage girl?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a teen female. I had a kiwi, and it made my mouth hurt. But it was not very bad, and I liked the flavor. I just managed it. I decided to have two kiwis yesterday, and then my mouth and tongue were tingly and itchy. My stomach was disturbed, and there was a kind of shortness of breath, and my heart rate increased two hours afterward.

Am I allergic?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You are right the symptoms you perceived could be because of kiwi allergy. This is called oral allergy syndrome, or pollen food syndrome. The raw proteins in fruit or peel of the fruit cause allergic symptoms. It may occur with certain other fruits, also like peaches, apples, etc. So if you are having symptoms after eating these fruits, you should try to avoid them. Though not very severe, it can cause serious respiratory problems like difficulty breathing, coughing, and palpitations.

For minor reactions, you can take a tablet of Levocetirizine (antihistamine) 5 mg daily to prevent tingling and itching. And for more severe reactions, you should always be carrying a self-injecting Adrenaline injection.

To confirm oral allergy syndrome, I advise you to do a skin prick allergy test. You can also do a full blood allergy test with all panels, including environmental, food, drugs, and allergens in the test.

After you are diagnosed with a particular allergy, avoidance is only the best thing that will prevent severe allergic reactions. I also advise you to get the help of the allergy doctor for further help if required.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you want some help.

Thank you.