Allergy, Cucumber

Cucumbers are one of the best digestive food items. They are 96% water and have only five calories per ounce, along with some vitamin C and trace minerals. They are healthy food items from the marrow family, including courgette, pumpkin, etc.

This vegetable is commonly grown in home gardens and is popularly used for consumption. It is often used as pickles when marinated with vinegar, salt, or spices. Due to extensive cross-reactivity among various individual species of the genus, many people may experience cucumber allergy and face an allergic reaction when exposed to it.

Cucumber plants produce high levels of phytoalexins in their leaves as a response to powdery mildew treatment. These phytoalexins are a leading cause of contact dermatitis.

The symptoms of cucumber allergy include:

• Hay fever
• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Runny nose

When these symptoms get intense, they can also lead to oral allergy syndrome (OAS). The symptoms of cucumber allergy can usually be treated with forty-three months of pollen-specific immunotherapy. This helps build tolerance and endurance for cucumber ingestion. This treatment is also effectively used to suppress an allergic reaction to different food items.

At Apollo 24|7, you can opt for a cucumber allergy test if you face any issues after consuming cucumbers. When opting for an allergy test, you must give detailed information and a history of your symptoms, the standard food items that cause this problem, how often you consume them, etc.

You will also have to share your family history of allergies with your doctor. Based on this information, your doctor will order a blood test. The treatment plan may include eliminating suspect food items for a week or two and gradually adding them back into your diet, along with medication. This process allows the doctors and healthcare providers to link symptoms to specific food items. The medicine will also help reduce the symptoms and can be taken after exposure to cucumbers.

If you face severe symptoms, your doctor may order an emergency injection of epinephrine and an immediate treatment plan.