Posted on July 28, 2009 in Latest News
An onion allergy is rare form allergy which is triggered when onion or onion-containing foods are consumed. People with this allergy usually experience bloating, gas, abdominal cramps, migraines after eating onions. Onion allergy is mostly associated with raw onions. Cooking the onions before eating can help some people to overcome this allergy. People with allergies to onions may also be allergic to garlic.
Symptoms of Onion Allergy:
Hives, itchiness, bloating, gas, nausea diarrhea, and headache are some of the symptoms of onion allergy. In rare cases, the allergy can progress to an anaphylactic reaction, which can be fatal. Hence, those with onion allergy should carry a self-injectable epinephrine to prevent the anaphylactic reaction.
Sometimes a person might be having onion intolerance rather than an allergy. An onion intolerance is caused when the body is unable to breakdown the onion and digest it. An intolerance shows up with digestive problems such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea etc. An allergy test can make it clear if you have an allergy and intolerance.
Elimination Diet:
If you have mild symptoms such as hives, bloating, gas after consuming onions, you can follow an elimination diet. This involves eliminating onions in your diet for a period of time. If your symptoms subside after elimination of onion, you might be allergic to onions.
You can also try eating onion cooked rather than raw, as most people have allergies to raw onion.
Allergy Testing:
If you supect onion allergies, consulting an allergist is recommended. Your allergist can conduct a blood test (RAST) or a skin prick test to check if you have allergy to onion.
Preventing Onion Allergy:
To prevent onion allergy, avoiding onion in your diet is necessary. Reading food labels can help you to filter out onion-containing products. While eating out, you can enquire about the ingredients and avoid those dishes which contain onions.
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