Garlic allergy is rare, but can cause a lot of discomfort for those allergic to it. People having garlic allergy break out in rashes after eating garlic. Diarrhea, abdominal bloating and nausea are other symptoms related to garlic allergy. People find it difficult to avoid garlic as many food products contain garlic. Moreover, food manufacturers are not required to label garlic on the food products. Cooking at home and being careful while eating out may be helpful for those with garlic allergies.
What Causes Garlic Allergy?
Garlic allergy is caused when our immune system mistakenly identifies the proteins present in garlic as harmful and reacts against it by releasing histamine. This results in an allergic reaction. People with onion allergy are at high risk of garlic allergy, as both onion and garlic belong to the same family.
Garlic Allergy Symptoms
- Itchy Skin
- Rashes
- Eczema
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
Diagnosing Garlic Allergy
Some people tolerate a small amount of garlic, but suffer from an allergic reaction if they consume larger quantities. If you suspect garlic allergy, try avoiding garlic for 1 or 2 weeks and see if your allergy symptoms subside.
Allergy tests can also be undertaken to know if you have an allergy to garlic. Skin prick test involves placing the garlic extract on the skin and checking if you react against it. Blood test (RAST) is another test which can help in determining garlic allergy.
Preventing Garlic Allergy
Avoiding garlic is the only way to prevent garlic allergy. However, this is tough, as many food products such as sauces, pizzas and others contain garlic. Food manufacturers also do not have to label garlic on their products. Hence, cooking at home is a good option. Inquiring about the ingredients while eating out can be helpful. Garlic is a popular spice and most products use garlic under the name of spices.
For those allergic to garlic, taking anti-histamines such as Benadryl is required to treat garlic allergy. Steroids also may be needed. A self-injectable epinephrine is very important to prevent an anaphylactic shock. If you suspect garlic allergy, do consult your allergist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
More Symptoms of Garlic Allergy
Gastric Symptoms
Garlic allergy can affect the intestines and stomach, leading to inflammation. This inflammation can lead to gas, bloated stomach, diarrhea, heartburn and stomach upset. Since, these symptoms are often mild, they are not recognized as signs of garlic allergy. These symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medicines.
Nasal Symptoms
Garlic allergy can also cause a runny or stuffy nose. Maintain a diary to note which foods cause which symptoms, to find out if you suffer from garlic allergy.
Skin Symptoms
In some people, ingesting or even merely touching garlic can cause a rash, itching or redness of skin.
Respiratory Symptoms
Patients with asthma or related respiratory illnesses may suffer wheezing, chest tightness and coughing. Inhaling dry garlic dust while preparing garlic in the kitchen, can cause these respiratory symptoms.
I called the FDA I was told garlic HAS to be listed because it was a whole food. I still don’t trust labels. I still vomited!
I have an allergic reaction which causes me to experience vomiting and diarrhea, so severe that I cannot leave the bathroom for at least 2 hours depending on how much garlic was eaten. Why does the body think that garlic is harmful? I just want to be able to eat garlic and not experience these terrible symptoms.
My reaction to garlic is gradual body numbness and fatigue so serious I have to lie down and sleep. And trying to avoid garlic if you eat out is almost impossible.
Fresh Garlic closes my throat making swallowing very difficult. It also closes a part of my gastro-intestinal tract causing severe tummy cramps. Dry Garlic (crushed or flakes) does similar things. I love the flavor of Garlic, but garlic does not like me. How can I get over it without omitting garlic from my diet? I am 58.
Excellent work
I’m just glad I’m not alone here. I was beginning to wonder if I’m a vampire. Fortunately eating Garlic only give’s me gas; my body in obvious protest that I doesn’t want to digest any food laced too heavely with Garlic, which I’ve always considered to taste sort of wrong anyways.
Me too. I am in the bathroom with diarrhea, along with lingering nausea and stomach pains, almost immediately after a meal containing large amounts of garlic or onion. I also get eczema the next day and my mouth gets sore and raw inside as well. Raw onion and garlic are the worst-forget about it! It’s so bad I can’t even stand the smell anymore. People can’t believe this happens to me; but it does and it’s not fun.
Enjoyed my visit, learned something new and will be coming back.
My garlic allergy mostly causes asthma symptoms, but it tends to be a delayed reaction (about a half hour) if eaten. Sometimes the smell of cooking garlic, if strong, sets it off, but the worst is garlic coming out people’s pores and breath. That’s the worst thing about it for me. If someone had garlic even 24 hours ago, talking to them or being physically close to them (as on a crowded bus, e.g.) can give me an asthma attack! The worst part of my garlic allergy for me is the social implication. How do you tell someone you’re not terribly close with but must work with or see on a regular basis that you got up and left when they sat near you because of their garlic eating? Luckily, it’s not life-threatening. But for me it’s very different from the symptoms listed on this page. Because allergies in general are cumulative, when I’m exposed to other allergens (like my cat!) I’m less tolerant of others. Sometimes I can eat a little garlic (a food containing a little, that is), but I won’t know till about a half hour later if I overdid it, so I just avoid the stuff.