Mango Allergy

Mango belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, which includes cashews, poison ivy. etc. A large number of varieties are cultivated and marketed all over the world with the Tommy Atkins variety being the most popular in the United States. This fruit is well-known for its delicious pulp that is eaten raw. However, it contains urushiol, an oily substance present in the sap and the peel of the fruit. This oil causes skin irritation around the mouth, swelling of the lip, blister formation and severe itching.

Symptoms

The allergic reaction is usually a type of contact dermatitis, which occurs when the allergic substance comes in contact with the skin. Urushiol, the substance causing mango allergy, is typically present in the skin. Being a self-melanizing (turns black in contact with air) substance, urushiol can be easily traced as the black sticky deposit on the fruit, usually at the point where the fruit is severed from the tree as also near punctures in the skin.

The signs of allergic reaction include redness of skin, especially of the lips, itching and flaking. It might take between 12-24 hours for the irritation to develop into a rash. One may also experience itching and swelling of the lips. Other symptoms include dryness of the eye, swelling and tickling of the tongue, irritation in the throat.

An anaphylactic reaction is almost rare and requires prompt medical attention. Other than the urushiol, this allergic reaction is also caused by its protein content. If you are completely allergic to this fruit, you may experience side effects like breathing trouble, stomach pain and sneezing.

Treatment

The best way of treating the allergy is to clean the area of the body that has come in contact with the sap immediately. This effectively drains the urushiol from the affected area. Allergic reaction can be cross reactive, which means that the allergy develops over a period of time after exposure to other substances that have the same allergic substance (urushiol in this case).

A person who is allergic to mangoes should avoid touching the fruit or at least the skin of the fruit. Though the development of a rash is basically a histamine response of the body, the use of antihistamines has not shown great effects to counter the symptoms. Over the counter, cortisone creams can be a form of symptomatic treatment. In case of severe reactions, topical as well as oral steroids may be used to get a quick remedy. However, before choosing any treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor. In case of severe rash, it is essential to consult an allergist and get the treatment at the earliest.

Honey can also be used for treating this allergy. The pollen allergens in honey act as anti-inflammatory agents thereby reducing the allergic reaction. A herb called Nettle is also effective as it acts as a natural antihistamine, inhibiting the production of histamine in the body.

Mango is one of the most delicious fruits and has a wide market value all over the world. Some of the tropical countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia as well as India have recipes that include the green (unripe) mango as one of the key ingredients. However, people who always develop an allergic reaction on consuming mangoes must avoid them completely.