Bannana/walnut Allergy

[muchlovex]

My sister ate a slice of homemade Banana and Walnut cake the other day and she took an allergic reaction. This happened at work. She said her throat, lips and mouth were tingling and she was wheezing.

She was told to go to the nearest walk-in centre ( I am shocked how her employer didn't ring an ambulance). She waited 15 mins to be seen. They said she has had a bad reaction to either the banana or walnut.

She had NEVER ever had any allergic reactions before. She has eaten bananas and walnuts in the past without any problems. So how come has this started now? She is only 29 years of age.

She has an appointment with a nurse next week as they are going to give her an Epi-pen. I am First Aid trained and I was trained that, before administering the EpiPen you have to be 100% sure that the person is having an allergic reaction, otherwise it can be fatal.

Has anyone else got this type of allergy and like my sister, had this developed later in life?

[pixie374]

It could have been any of the ingredients. I don't have any allergies, but yes, they can come on severely and suddenly.

[jennyjoan]

much loveex - she may have had a coelic reaction to the homemade bread - particularly if it was made with gluten - banana is ok - am really unsure about the nut thing - she could have an allergy to that too - you know nut allergy I know you said she is only 29 but my friend was told she was coelic at 55 years old but she copes great.

[Eve]

I have oral allergy syndrome, diagnosed when allergy tests were run before I had an operation to check I wasn't allergic to latex a few years ago.

Allergies came up I had had no idea about like apples (some I knew like horse hair). I had skin prick ones and blood tests.

I've had issues with some fruit and nuts which cause similar symptoms but I take an antihistamine daily and find more natural and unprocessed fruit/nuts trigger the symptoms more, such as nuts straight out of the nut case or from that straight into a packet, so it seems to be like something on the outside of the fruit/nut which sets the allergy off, like hazelnuts and walnuts. I'm better if they have been washed and processed but she should obviously take the appropriate advice in accordance with her allergy response.

Was the cake homemade by her or someone else at work?

[muchlovex]

Hi Eve, her colleague made it at home and took it to work for everything one.

My sister was the only one to have this allergic reaction. My sis said the lady who had baked the cake, used bananas which were very ripe. I wonder if the concentration of the bananas made her have that reaction.

She is going to have a allergy test next week to find out what it is she is allergic to.

[EDDIE51]

Allergies can develop suddenly without any previous symptoms.
You can go for years without a problem then develop an allergic reaction to something.

[EDDIE51]

You have to use very ripe bananas for banana bread otherwise there is no taste to it. It should not make it more likely to cause an allergy .

[gness]

Morning, Muchlove......I loved peanuts....ate them often until the night of a party when I was about forty.....overnight I developed an allergy.
As well as the swelling and breathing problems it caused severe joint/muscle pain.
I also started to react to anything that was related to peanuts.....all beans.... which included coffee and chocolate....that was a pain....☺....but those reactions are very slight....the peanut reaction is the really bad one.

I carry two Epi-pens though I'd hope never to have to use both.

I'm not sure that a mistaken administration would be fatal.....but an allergic reaction is pretty recognisable......x

[muchlovex]

Good morning Gness,
Poor you! Glad you have two Epi Pens.

Did you have blood tests to diagnose the allergen?

X

[Sqad]

\\ She said her throat, lips and mouth were tingling and she was wheezing. \\

That certainly sounds like a food or contact allergy.

The advice that you were given is certainly good advice...re. the EpiPen.

Allergies can come on in later life as has been mentioned above.

Blood tests are notoriously inaccurate in contact and food allergies.

No, I do not suffer from any allergies.

[jennyjoan]

gness - googled epi pen - do you use it every day like a diabetic needle or now and again - I truly never heard of them.

[pixie374]

Just with a severe reaction, jj.

[237SJ]

jennyjoan - you use them if you are having an anaphylactic reaction or someone else could use it on you if you are unconcious. They are for use when someone has a history of anaphylaxis because they are adrenaline and can affect the heart. Also, not to be used on children under 6

[jennyjoan]

so you actually use them in the middle of having a fit - what happens if you are on your own in the middle of the fit

[pixie374]

Then hopefully you'll use it as soon as you notice the first signs.

[237SJ]

It`s not a fit. It`s a reaction as described in the OP. People with a history of it would know they are having a reaction and they just inject themselves in the thigh with the pen. That`s why they have to carry it with them at all times.

[jennyjoan]

That's more sickness to think about - it just goes on and on.

[gness]

I didn't, Muchlove.....I was really, really stupid. My allergy came on in a very strange way and a bit slower than some like your sister....
Because my throat would swell up a while after I'd eaten peanuts I was told it was a tonsil problem....so they took them out.......dry toast in those days...no ice cream...:-(....that solved nothing.
No reason could be found for the joint and muscle pain.


Then...after quite some time I started to suspect peanuts so, as an experiment I gave them up for a few weeks....then ate a packet....well not the whole packet because that was when I had the almighty reaction.
Started in my calves....then hit my throat, hands and mouth....and I couldn't get any breath.
Scared the living daylights out of me.

Discussing it with my doctor he explained why this had happened and warned that the next attack could be fatal.....cheery soul....
It wasn't......Years later I was given some bacon cooked in groundnut oil but by then as soon as I took one bite the attack started and I could take action....and not die....☺

I can tell how sensitive my body is to the allergens by how I react if I eat beans of any sort.....sometimes there is nothing at all....sometimes a slight tingle and my hands go red.

I suspect that an allergy can disappear as quickly as it came and I could possibly eat a peanut now.....but I'm not chancing it!

[jennyjoan]

My little niece is allergic to dogs as I had to put Maxie out some time last year when she visited - nephew said if she was near dogs at all - she would swell up ie her face and lips etc. - would that be something similar.

[237SJ]

I don`t remember any kids at school having severe reactions to anything. For some reason, it`s much more prevalent these days.

[jennyjoan]

if you can't eat this and that - you must be like a wee rake.