I have a weird allergy to oranges. Does anyone else have this?

Question

If I eat so much as a single orange section, my whole mouth tingles and stings within a few seconds. It starts on the roof of my mouth and then spread to the rest of my mouth. This has happened to me since I was a child. Weird thing is I am not allergic to other citrus fruits such as lemons, limes or grapefruit.

The strange thing is also that I can clean with Orange Glo and it doesn't bother my skin except dry it out a little. I love the smell of oranges too! Like I said before, just a single section will cause a painful tingling and stinging in my whole mouth, including my lips. It's almost as bad as having a novocaine shot at the dentist. And my mother wondered why I was so stubborn about not eating oranges as a child.
By the way my 5 year old daughter is not allergic to oranges so I have to buy the very fruit I cannot eat each week at the grocery store. Strange how some allergies are passed along and some are not.

Answer 1

My father had that kind of orange allergy, and not to any other citrus fruits. I've always been able to eat any kind of citrus fruit but I couldn't use concentrated citrus cleaners because they gave me respiratory and skin problems.

Answer 2

Allergy To Oranges

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I have a weird allergy to oranges. Does anyone else have this?
If I eat so much as a single orange section, my whole mouth tingles and stings within a few seconds. It starts on the roof of my mouth and then spread to the rest of my mouth. This has happened to me since I was a child. Weird thing is I am not allergic to other citrus fruits such as lemons,...

Answer 4

I woke up with a strange small puncture wound between my first two knuckles after the Northridge Earthquake here in Southern CA that at first left me overly sensitive to all acidic foods eve tomatoes. After a Physicians partial treatment I was left with an orange sensitivity and swelling in my upper arm. I have since been working on getting rid of this problem with: a can sour sop fruit mixture (milk, half & half, Instant coffee packages, some lemonade to make it palatable) & drink it all down within a day or two) followed with a low instant coffee enema with the week. This has reduced the swelling so much, that yesterday I tried to eat an orange again after having avoided them for years and was able for finish half of one with only a very mild skin reaction. Before, whenever I accidentally ate them my skin would feel like fly paper and would look all red and blotchy or break out in hives so I would have to soak in a cup a baking soda and use anti itch lotion from head to toe to calm down. It did pleasantly sting around my back and shoulder area inside though, but I consumed some of the rind with it as I have been hearing good news about the health benefits of orange zest. In the morning it felt pleasantly diuretic, so I am thankful that I have finally been able to find something I feel will help me overcome this allergy because oranges I feel are economical and good for us! As I began my day thinking to start a little Oral Immunotherapy I got carried away because I have missed eating oranges for so long & it tasted so good. Perhaps next time I will have something better to report.

Answer 5

Allergic To Oranges

Answer 6

My son when he was a baby had an allergy to oranges. His lips and mouth would blister. Pineapple bothered him a little but not much. He could eat lemons, limes, grapefruits with no no trouble at all. He has grown out of this allergy now. It lasted till he was about 5. Allergist said just one of those things. I have a friend who is only allergic to bananas. Strange.

Answer 7

I also have reactions to eating oranges, grew into this as an adult. My young adult daughter is also experiencing problems. The burning isn't from citric acid. Look up Profilin allergy. I get the burning in the mouth - an immediate symptom (I have grass pollen allergies), and within 2 days, every time, my torso gets red blotchy itchy areas and my extremities feel very itchy though nothing is visible. Hello antihistamines...

You can find multiple sources online. I've attached one.

Answer 8

That's unusual! Because vitamin C is actually a natural antihistmine. If you're eating just a small amount I wonder if there's something else about the orange that causes your problems--maybe something about the oils from the peel?

Here's some information from my alllergy book:
"The orange is a tropical citrus fruit containing cellulose, citric acid, sugar, and small quanities of vasoactive amines (potent nitrogen-containing organic compounds) that in large quanities may be a cause of migraine headaches. Oil derived from fresh orange peels is often used as a flavoring and in perfumes and may cause allergic reactions."

Answer 9

I'm Lois. I get big hives from less than a one half teaspoon of orange or orange juice. My uncle had same allergy.

Answer 10

I have a similar reaction but not to a single orange or glass of juice. It does occur along with temporary skin blotches if it eat too much citrus or drink too much juice. If my wife overdoses on citrus she gets what look like fever blisters. It is actually a reaction to Vitamin C or citric acid. The effects are temporary. You just have to avoid overdoing the "C". It can sneak up on people who are taking multi-vitamins or other supplements.

.