What Are the Symptoms of Allergies to Bananas?

Video Transcript

"Hi! I'm Dr. David Hill and today we're going to be talking about the symptoms of allergies to bananas. Now, this would seem like, you know, he's got a banana allergy but actually it's a pretty common allergy and it comes in two very distinct forms. The first form is the more common form of fruit allergy and it's usually non-life threatening, that is, people who eat a banana and may get some swelling or itching in the mouth. This is a very common presentation of a lot of food allergies and while it's annoying and may limit the diet somewhat, it doesn't require carrying around an Epinephrine pen or being worried about a life-threatening reaction. However, there is a more rare and more dangerous form of banana allergy which is associated with latex allergy. So, people who are allergic to the sort of latex that might be used in rubber gloves or balloons, or hospital equipment may actually have a cross-reactivity with bananas because of similarity in antigens. This people may experience generalized itching or hives, they may have difficulty breathing and they may even go into shock, something called anaphylaxis. This people are often also sensitive to other tropical fruits including mangoes, avocados, and chestnuts which are not really a tropical fruit, but still categorized as part of this allergy. If you have this type of allergy, you'd be well-advised to consult an allergist and always have an Epinephrine auto-injector, also known as an Epi pen, available in case you have a serious reaction. Discussing the two types of banana allergies, I'm Dr. David Hill."