Allergy to dates

The palm tree is considered one of the most important trees in the world.
For centuries, people in tropical and subtropical regions have been using this fruit and other parts of its tree in many ways.
Archaeologists have traced traces of this tree in 5000 to 6000 years BC in areas of Iran, Egypt and Pakistan!
The valuable properties of this fruit are many and it is used in different forms and products! Therefore, considering the large consumption of this fruit in Iran, in this article, an attempt has been made to describe the sensitivity and allergy to some substances in dates in simple language.

Allergens of date fruit

So far, there have been numerous reports of sensitivity and allergic reactions after consuming date fruit! Studies have shown that sensitive people have digestive and skin allergic reactions to various protein substances in date extract.
It is worth mentioning that palm tree pollen has also been identified and described as a type of respiratory allergen!

Usually, allergic reactions caused by eating date fruit include itching of the mouth and throat, itching, redness and swelling of the lips, which usually appear after about 5 to 15 minutes after consuming the fruit.
These reactions may be seen again after 15 minutes to about an hour.
In some cases, allergic reactions may be severe after consuming date fruit, during which the skin, stomach, or lungs are also involved, and in some cases, a person may have an anaphylaxis reaction.
Also, a person who is sensitive to dates may get hives and eczema after consuming dates.
Gastrointestinal symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating, nausea and sometimes diarrhea. In cases of nose involvement, the symptoms are frequent sneezing, itching, congestion and runny nose, and the lung symptoms are shortness of breath, cough and breathing disorders (asthma).

The diagnosis of allergy and sensitivity to date fruit is made after a detailed clinical examination by a specialist doctor and knowledge of the history of the disease.
Usually, the treating doctor recommends skin and blood tests to diagnose date sensitivity and allergy.

Prevention and treatment of allergies and sensitivities to date fruit
, as a general and comprehensive law, the most definitive way to treat sensitivities and allergies to all kinds of food allergens, including dates, is to avoid and refrain from consuming them.
Avoiding consumption of date fruit and food products obtained from this fruit is very necessary for people who show severe allergic reactions to this fruit!
Regarding the control and treatment of allergic side effects caused by the consumption of dates, when the symptoms and side effects are not severe, the specialist doctor usually prescribes antihistamine drugs (orally, eye drops or nasal spray).
But in cases where reactions and symptoms are very severe (such as anaphylaxis reactions), emergency care is needed.

• If an allergy to date fruit is proven by a doctor specializing in asthma and allergy, it is recommended not to consume raw fruit or food containing it!
• People who are sensitive to dates should be careful in consuming fruit juices, especially mixed fruit juices. Small amounts of date extract in such fruit juices may cause allergic reactions in a person.
• If a person is allergic to a type of date, the possibility of allergic reactions due to consumption of other varieties of dates is very high!
• It is worth mentioning that because dates may carry spores of fungi and molds such as Cladosporium species or other genera of fungi or molds, people who are sensitive to mushrooms or molds may be allergic to them if they consume dates. Have allergic reactions.
• For children and allergic children, using dates for the first time should be done with caution! For the first time, a small amount of dates should be consumed, and if there are no allergic symptoms, more dates can be used.