If you are having vague, nonspecific strange symptoms that come and go; you may be suffering from an allergy. Strange allergy symptoms are actually very common. Some people can suffer for years from strange allergy symptoms and never realize they have an allergy (neither does their physician).
Three Possible Causes of these Strange Allergy Symptoms
• A banana allergy
• An allergic reaction to surgical steel
• A strawberry allergy
Strange allergy symptoms that indicate you may have an allergy to banana:
Bananas contain a substance that can mimic histamine in the body. The body cells normally contain histamine. When the immune system feels a threatening substance it may tell the cells to release the histamine. The histamine then finds a histamine receptor; where it locks in place and causes adverse symptoms. It is uncertain why some substances (allergens) cause this reaction in some people and not in others.
Bananas also contain another substance that does not mimic histamine, but rather actually causes the body’s own histamine to be released causing symptoms.For people with a banana allergy, strange allergy symptoms will occur within an hour of eating a banana or banana containing food (such as pudding).
A mild allergic reaction may include one or more of these symptoms:
- Itching and or swelling of the lips, mouth, or throat.
- Hives (rash) on the skin, especially on the face, neck and chest. With this allergy you will know what do hives look like.
- Runny nose or swelling of the membranes inside the nose and sinuses. A congested or full feeling around the eyes and forehead (such as felt with a sinus headache) may occur.
- Sneezing
- Gastrointestinal upset or distress such as diarrhea, nausea or vomiting and stomach cramping.
The symptoms generally resolve rather quickly (less than a few hours). A physician may recommend an antihistamine or other allergy medication as he/she deems indicated.
A severe reaction can occur that includes symptoms such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Throat occlusion (blockage) due to excessive swelling
- A drop in blood pressure
These are symptoms of anaphylactic shock which form part of strange allergy symptoms that are life threatening and a medical emergency. it is of the utmost important to seek help as soon as symptoms of difficult breathing are detected.
Reaction to Surgical Steel
Although infrequent, occasionally a person will have allergy symptoms due to surgical steel such as that used in body piercing. Most often the cause is not actually the surgical steel but rather from topical products applied to the piecing, an irritation from a flaw in the metal due to manufacturing defect (most commonly the metal is not completely smooth). The Nickel contained in surgical steel will often cause an allergic reaction in people.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to surgical steel include:
- Pus or discharge from the piercing
- Redness and swelling in the local area and infection
Surgery patients who receive any type of implant (such as screws and joints) in their body can develop these same symptoms. This is not just types of eczema. A surgical patient with symptoms of an allergic reaction should seek medical treatment promptly.
Signs of a strawberry allergy:
Often overlooked in children are what are the signs of a strawberry allergy and it is being dismissed as just an irritation of a child’s mouth. Also known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
- The lips and mouth become irritated, very red, and may swell. The reaction is isolated to the mouth and lips.
While OAS is usually temporary and resolves on its own; it can cause an adult or a child to become quite uncomfortable. If you (or your family) are suffering any of these strange allergy symptoms, consult your doctor to discuss your symptoms more thoroughly.
