Mango Allergy

Most people develop mango allergy when they touch the skin of a mango or eat unpeeled mango. Their lips turn red and they develop hives all over the body. Sometimes they may also have difficulty breathing and may develop fever.   But, the good news is that eating mangoes after removing the skin does not cause allergy in most people.

Why does mango peel trigger allergic reaction? The mango peel contains a chemical called uroshiol, which triggers the allergy. So, eating peeled mangoes may help people in overcoming mango allergy. As mango belongs to the family of poison oak and poison ivy, people having adverse reactions to these plants can also have allergic reaction to mango.

Mango Allergy Symptoms:
Mango allergy can give rise to allergic contact dermatitis which involves hives, redness, and itchiness of the skin. Here are the symptoms of mango allergy:

• Redness around the mouth
• Hives, itchiness all over the body
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Difficulty breathing

In rare cases, mango allergy can give rise to life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. Administering epinephrine can prevent anaphylaxis.

Preventing Mango Allergy:
Mango allergy could be prevented in the following ways:

• Always eat peeled mango, as mango skin can give rise to allergy. You can ask your friend to peel the mango for you or peel the mango skin with hand gloves on.
• If you come in contact with mango skin, wash immediately with soap/dish detergent
• Avoid contact with mango tree leaves and branches
• If peeled mango gives rise to allergies, complete avoidance of mango is recommended

A few people develop allergies even to peeled mango fruit. In such cases, complete avoidance of mango and consulting an allergist is recommended.

Mango Allergy Treatment:
To treat the redness, hives, taking antihistamines such as Benadryl may help. Your doctor may also prescribe cortisone cream for relief.

To determine allergies to mango, allergy testing can be undertaken. Consulting your allergist can help you receive proper treatment.

More Treatments for Mango Allergy
The main thing is to avoid contact with the allergen. So, dietary modification is necessary to exclude unpeeled mangoes. Other useful treatments include:

• Nasal sprays, including anthistamines and topical steroids for allergic rhinitis.
• Eyedrops — olapatadine, ketotifen, levocabastine and ketorolac for allergic conjunctivitis.
• For asthma, take inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled beta agonists.
• Take oral steroids for moderate allergic symptoms, with skin conditions or asthma.
• Desensitization to get used to the allergen.
• In case of anphylactic reaction, hospitalization may be necessary.