Allergy to Fig Fruit

The sensitivity and allergy to fig fruit is significant among food allergies due to the extraordinary nutritional value of this fruit and its consumption at different ages and in different forms!
In addition to being used as food in complementary medicine (traditional medicine), the fruit of the fig tree also has medicinal properties.
Figs in Iran are usually used fresh or dried, and people who are sensitive to figs may experience allergic reactions if they consume any type of this fruit.
It should be noted that the symptoms of allergy and sensitivity to fig fruit can be seen as a food allergy after consuming the fruit, or sometimes as a result of skin contact with the plant sap and the contents inside the fruit as a skin allergy.

The edible fig tree with the scientific name Ficus carica is a member of the Moraceae family.
The fig genus has more than 600 species, most of which are wild or ornamental.
Types of fig trees that are planted to produce and harvest their fruit are: Ficus carica, Ficus podocarica and Ficus palmata. It is worth mentioning that in Iran, the common fig that is cultivated for edible purposes is Ficus carica.

The edible fig tree in Iran is mainly grown in Fars, Mazandaran, Lorestan and Kermanshah provinces.
Fresh figs in Iran are divided into three categories: normal, Izmir and San Pedro, and these categories of figs have different varieties.
Some of these varieties are: Adriatic figs, brown figs, Kalimyrna figs, Koleste figs, Kaduta figs, Mission figs, or King figs. 
It is worth mentioning that there are differences between the classification of varieties and types of dried figs and its classification in fresh figs.

As stated in the text of cross-reaction between food and respiratory allergens, some allergens or allergens are similar in terms of composition and structure.
Studies have shown that fig allergens also cross-react with respiratory allergens of the same family as Ficus benjamina.
Ficus benjamina is a kind of ornamental plant and popular in Iran.
The sap (latex) of Ficus benjamina, which is inside the stem and in its leaves, is one of the respiratory or skin allergens inside the house.
Also, some studies have shown that fig fruit allergens have similarities with latex allergens (natural vegetable rubber) and may cause allergic complications in people who are sensitive to latex!

In general, the severity of allergic symptoms and reactions due to the consumption of fig fruit varies from mild and self-limiting to moderate and even severe (anaphylaxis reaction).
One of the most common symptoms of fig allergy is redness, itching, swelling in the area of ​​the lips, around the mouth, inside the oral cavity (in the area of ​​the tongue and throat) (Oral Allergy Syndrome or OAS).
Some people who are sensitive to fig fruit may also experience sneezing or itching in the nose, eyes and ears.
Fortunately, the symptoms of oral allergy syndrome gradually disappear after washing and removing the remaining fig fruit in the mouth and around the mouth!
Sometimes, after skin contact with plant sap, fruit and juicy tissues, the sensitive person will experience hives and itching in the contact area, i.e. hands or around the mouth and cheeks.
Due to the consumption of figs by a sensitive person, disturbances in the breathing process (shortness of breath and wheezing) may occur in the person due to the swelling of the tissues of the throat and tongue as well as the respiratory tract. Due to the severity of respiratory symptoms, urgent medical attention should be considered.
Gastrointestinal allergic reactions caused by the consumption of fig fruit, like other food allergies, can include bloating and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Sometimes the sick person suffers from allergic symptoms and complications due to the cross-reaction of the allergenic substances of the fig fruit with other allergens.
In simple words, in fact, the patient suffers from allergic reactions due to the similarity of allergenic substances in figs with some allergenic substances of other plants, such as ficus benjamina or latex material (found in gloves or balloons). 

The accurate diagnosis of allergy and sensitivity to fig fruit is usually made following a detailed clinical examination by a specialist in asthma and allergy and knowledge of the patient’s medical history. The attending physician recommends skin and blood tests to diagnose fig sensitivity and allergy.

Before any action to prevent and treat allergies and sensitivities to figs, it must be proven by a doctor specializing in asthma and allergies, and following clinical examinations and blood and skin tests, the presence of sensitivities to this fruit must be proven.
After this step, according to the general rule of preventing the occurrence of allergy symptoms, avoiding contact and exposure to the allergenic substance! In simpler words, people who are sensitive to figs should avoid consuming figs or contact with the inner part of the fruit or the juice of the fig plant (to be careful and prevent skin complications)!
Also, as mentioned earlier, the allergenic substances of figs are similar to the ornamental and apartment plant of its family, Ficus benjamina.
Therefore, due to the similarity (cross-reaction) of some substances of figs and the mentioned plant, a person who is sensitive to figs should avoid keeping and contacting the Ficus benjamina plant!

If an allergy to fig fruit is proven by an allergy doctor, it is recommended to limit or stop the use of this fruit in fresh form or foods in which figs or its juice are used!

In general, in people who are sensitive to figs, all types and varieties of figs in fresh and raw form or in the form of dried figs, cooked or in the form of jam can cause allergic symptoms in the person! Therefore, it is recommended to limit or stop the consumption of figs in different forms!

People with severe allergies and sensitivities to figs must pay attention to the ingredients of commercially purchased foods (such as sweets, etc.) and make sure that there is no figs or its juice. For this, you must carefully read the labels of food containers.

People who are allergic to figs, when they go to various events and parties or restaurants, they must be informed about the ingredients of sweets and desserts ordered. In cases of severe allergy to figs, small amounts of allergenic substances of this fruit may cause an anaphylaxis reaction in allergic people.