Mango allergy

Posted by TC (940 days ago)

Does anyone else have an allergy to fresh mangoes? Having grown up in SE Asia and living most of the last 30 years or so in Australia mangoes were almost a staple intake. But about 7 years ago, while living in Fiji, I ate a very juicy mango, got the juice all over hands, face and chest (not a pretty picture, but it was hot and I was shirtless). Within about 4 days I was itching severely and had deep red rashes where the juice had contacted. In addition my lips were numb (not a good thing for a trumpet player). The doctor came to the conclusion it was 'mango mouth' and warned me off fresh mangoes for the rest of my life. On occasions since then I have tried the odd piece - no vivid rashes, but certainly itching...and still the numb lips (even on the most recent occasion when my wife fed me a sliver almost straight down the throat - certainly didn't touch the lips. I LOVE FRESH MANGOES. Has anyone else developed any such allergy?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by elane (940 days ago)

My roomate from college had an allergic reaction which manifested itself with a massive rash all around her mouth and chin. She figured out it was the skin of the mango that gave her that reaction. Far as I know, she eats mangoes now.. but carefully removes all the skin first and no problems.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by gooogle (940 days ago)

my friend also has this problem, but she said nothing can help.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by hkchoichoi (940 days ago)

i've always understood it also as being the mango SKIN that causes problems.

I also developed an allergy - I developed a cashew nut allergy in my 30's, after having eaten them before.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by TC (939 days ago)

Thanks all. With me it certainly wasn't the mango skin because they were always well peeled before coming into contact with my hands etc.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by archaotics (456 days ago)

I just got back from a visit to a doctor who was baffled at the cause of these poison-ivy like rashes which developed under my chin and all over my "male piece." Then I explained my condition to a friend and the first thing she said was "have you eaten any mangos?" I replied, "In fact I have, 3 of them and right near the time I broke out..." She asked "Did you eat the skin, becuase that is what made me break into a severe allergic reation." No, I don't think I ate any skin, but none-the-less, I now believe that I have developed an allergic reaction to one of my favorite fruits to eat...DAMN IT!!!! I didn't have sex with the mango or my hands, so I think my reaction occured after I ate and digested it, not from having external contact with it. I didn't get any juice under my chin either. My lips are chapped too...ugh.

(I am based in Bahrain)

Posted by archaotics (456 days ago)

Wait, I got it! Read this short article on cross-reactivity... http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/8_8_98/food.htm
Basically, your skin finds a resin in the skin of the mango that is a close resemblance to a resin in poison-ivy so it reacts to it in the same way! TC, I bet you tried to wipe the juice off of your chest after your hand picked up the oils from the mango skin...in my case I probably used the bathrcoom after handling the mango and got the oils on my manpiece. If this all is true, just use latex gloves to cut the mango or have someone else cut it. And btw, I am based in Georgia, United States. How did you decide Bahrain?

(I am based in Bahrain)

Posted by Tidings 2 (456 days ago)

archaotics, because of your signature, have a look.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Molly in China (453 days ago)

Mangoes are in the same family of plants as poison ivy, so it is possible for anyone to develop an allergy to them if they are also allergic to poison ivy. And it can be just the flesh that causes the problem, not just the oils in the skin. So depending on your sensitivity, you may be able to eat the flesh as long as someone else does the peeling, or any part of the fruit may affect you, or I've even heard of someone who had trouble if there some in the room and someone handled them (presumbly some of the oil in the skin became airborne and caused a reaction).

While not everyone is allergic to poison ivy, I wouldn't recommend going into a patch to see if you're one of the people who aren't. And only humans and the great apes are allergic to it; it's great food for deer and other herbivores.

Food allergies can develop at any point in your life, and to foods that you really love. Both of my older sisters and I all developed an allergy to strawberries at approximately the same age. I can really empathize with you archaotics!

(I am based in Guangzhou)