The Causes and Signs of Strawberry Allergy

Strawberry belongs to the rose family, Family Rosaceae. It belongs to the genus Fragaria and widely cultivated in the temperate region. This low, perennial herb is popular for its sweet and reddish fruits. There are four principal species of strawberry in the world. These are the wood strawberry (Fragaria vesca), meadow strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), and the species from which most varieties came from, Fragaria moschata. The fruit of strawberry is technically a “false” fruit because the seeds are located outside the fruit.

Strawberry contains different kinds of proteins and some of these can trigger allergic reactions to human. Human immune system mistakenly recognizes these proteins as harmful so it initiates an allergic response to protect the body. The first exposure time to strawberry may not trigger a violent allergic symptoms but the immune system is already producing immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to neutralize the proteins and protect the person on future exposure. If the person is exposed to strawberry for the second time, the IgE antibodies stimulate body cells to produce histamine. Histamine promotes blood vessel dilation, fluid secretion, and muscle spasm. There still no reliable explanations why some people are allergic to strawberry while others are not.

Researchers from the University of Lund in Sweden announced that they have isolated a particular protein which may be the culprit for strawberry allergy. They said that the protein is one among other proteins that give the red color to the strawberry. They did not find that protein in white strawberry. They added that the molecular structure of the allergen (the protein) in red strawberry has some similarities to that of the birch pollen allergen. So a person who is allergic to birch pollen may also be allergic to strawberry but not vice versa.

The signs of strawberry allergy may be the combination of the following:

· Swelling of tongue, mouth, and throat

· Itchiness

· Rashes

· Hives

· Watery eyes

· Vomiting

· Diarrhea

· The worst: Anaphylactic shock