Associated symptoms of strawberry allergy

In addition to a skin rash, an allergy to strawberries can lead to a number of other symptoms. Frequently it starts to tingle in the mouth and throat shortly after consumption, and small blisters may also form here. In addition, nausea and abdominal pain may occur.

In more severe cases, there may be swelling in the mouth area and shortness of breath. As with any allergic reaction, an anaphylactic shock may occur in extreme cases. This can cause a drop in blood pressure and in the worst case, cardiac arrest. Cross-allergies to other foods and pollen or grasses are also not uncommon, i.e. these substances cause similar reactions to eating strawberries.

Therapy of the skin rash from strawberries

As with any allergy, the treatment of a strawberry allergy consists mainly of avoiding the triggering cause, i.e. a complete renunciation of strawberries (so-called maternity leave). As a rule, strawberries are completely free of symptoms when they are avoided. If strawberries were consumed accidentally, the symptoms can be alleviated by a number of medications.

In an emergency, the patient can be given a set consisting of a cortisone preparation and an antihistamine for his own use. In the event of an anaphylactic shock, the patient should also be provided with an adrenaline autoinjector (adrenaline pen). Immunotherapy, as used for example in the case of pollen allergies, is also possible in principle for food allergies such as strawberry allergy.However, there is no clear evidence of sufficient efficacy in food allergies so far, so that dispensing with the allergen (strawberry) is still the focus of therapy.

Duration of a skin rash caused by strawberries

If a food allergy such as the allergy to strawberries already occurs in infancy, it often disappears again in childhood. If, on the other hand, an allergy to strawberries occurs for the first time only in later childhood or in adulthood, the chances of a cure are small. In these cases, a lifelong renunciation of strawberries is usually necessary to guarantee freedom from symptoms. If a skin rash develops after eating strawberries, it usually lasts only a few hours. If the rash lasts much longer, a doctor should be consulted for clarification.