Some individuals experience allergy-like symptoms just by eating citrus fruits. The symptoms include watery eyes, rashes and runny nose. Along with hives, there is also tingling in the lips and tongue. As the symptoms become severe, the voice becomes hoarse and the throat tightens. In some circumstances, these are accompanied by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
It is important to note that some of these are the symptoms of a true citrus allergy. At the present, there is no cure for this type of allergy but simply avoidance of foods that can trigger the symptoms.
The start of a true allergy typically occurs within a few seconds or minutes of exposure to the allergen. In some, it might take a few hours depending on the degree of exposure and how rapidly the immune system reacts. Remember that the actual allergen is the fruit itself such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, mandarins and pomelo.
Citric acid allergy
Since fruits are actually acidic in nature, they might also trigger citric acid allergy in some individuals. An individual with this allergy might be sensitive to the presence of citric acid.
Remember that citric acid is the substance present in various foods, beverages and even drugs. It is also included in several cosmetic and skin care products. Usually, it would be labelled as citrus extracts or citric acid preservatives such as potassium citrate and sodium citrate.
Intolerance to citric acid
Citric acid intolerance tends to occur and recur when the body is unable to digest and metabolize the citric acid present in food. When it comes to intolerance, the symptoms only manifest and develop after some time.
Certain substances added to food
An individual can be allergic to citrus fruit, sensitive to citric acid and intolerant to high levels of acidity. Understandably, these present a wide range of issues that makes it hard to come up with a diagnosis.
The irritation might also be triggered by other ingredients added to food. Some of these include soda, sourdough bread, wine, vinegar and cheese. Unless otherwise diagnosed, these can be interpreted as less of an allergy and more of food sensitivity.
Aside from sensitivity, the reaction might also be a side effect that triggers an allergy-like reaction. Excessive intake of vitamin C supplements might also be a factor. Synthetic supplements might contain inactive ingredients that might trigger an allergic reaction. As a response, the body produces antibodies to fight off the threat.
Prevention
If an individual has citrus allergy, he/she should carefully read the labels and examine the contents when buying food products. The ingredients and nutritional facts can indicate what citrus fruits they are made of and the amount of citric acid they contain.
Another option is to eat citrus fruits peeled and sliced. This will allow the body to control the intake by eating only in small portions. If the individual still experiences symptoms of an allergic reaction, a doctor should be consulted.