Various pastries and other foods in restaurants and bakeries contain cinnamon in order to enhance the flavor. Nevertheless, some individuals suffer from cinnamon allergy after eating these products. This can be a difficult issue since cinnamon is often present in various foods.
Symptoms of cinnamon allergy
The symptoms of cinnamon allergy tend from vary from mild to severe. Some of the usual symptoms include the following.
- Runny nose
- Asthma-like symptoms such as breathing difficulty or shortness of breath
- Redness, soreness and watery eyes
- Nausea
- Swelling of the lips or tongue
Severe symptoms of cinnamon allergy
Since the symptoms of cinnamon allergy vary from one individual to another, some can experience severe symptoms.
- Skin dermatitis causes inflammation of the skin. The individual can experience eczema, blistering and irritation. The initial signs present include redness or rashes in the area that came in contact with cinnamon.
- Stomach upset is a dangerous symptom that occurs among those suspected with cinnamon allergy. The signs include vomiting, diarrhea or stomach cramps. These symptoms can occur within minutes or hours after ingestion of foods that contain cinnamon.
- Facial swelling occurs along with persistent vomiting and coughing.
- Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening reaction with symptoms such as dizziness or lightheadedness, erratic heartbeat, confusion, abrupt drop in the blood pressure, shock and loss of consciousness. If the individual experiences these symptoms after eating foods that contain cinnamon, a doctor should be consulted right away.
If the individual experiences any of the severe symptoms, it is vital to consult a doctor or bring the individual to the nearest emergency department for further care.
Allergy testing for cinnamon allergy
Once a child is suspected with cinnamon allergy, the doctor will perform a skin patch test. During this process, the doctor will place a small amount of cinnamon on the patch and then placed on the skin for 20-30 minutes.
If the skin stays normal, he/she is not allergic to cinnamon. In such cases, it is vital to also check for other possible foods that the child is allergic to. On the other hand, once irritation occurs, cinnamon should be eliminated from the diet.
Causes of cinnamon allergy
Cinnamon oil has been a popular allergen since the 19th century. Some individuals experience symptoms right after eating or direct exposure to cinnamon. Nevertheless, there are symptoms that can be considered as delayed type IV reactions. It simply means that the allergic reaction to cinnamon only manifests within hours after the intake of cinnamon.
In some circumstances, it might be difficult to determine which substance the individual is truly allergic since many products do not contain actual cinnamon and use cassia as an alternative. In reality, cinnamon offered in grocery stores is actually cassia. With this in mind, it is vital to determine the correct allergen so that the appropriate treatment can be started.