Cucumber is a food which may result in allergy symptoms in sensitised individuals.
Cucumber Allergy Test: Allergen Exposure
Originating in the Himalayas, cucumber has been cultivated by humans for over four centuries. The cucumber is a long, cylindrical, green-skinned fruit which is a member of the gourd family. It has edible seeds surrounded by a mild, crisp flesh.
Today, production is global, with the main cultivation of cucumbers taking place in Britain, China, India, Iraq, Java, Kurdistan, Turkey, and Venezuela.
Cucumber is among the most widely grown vegetables, common in home gardens, on truck farms and as a greenhouse crop. It grows year-round, with the peak crop from late spring to late summer.
The cucumber is used for fresh consumption, or for preservation, marinated with vinegar, salt, or spices. It is known as a gherkin when small and used in preserves and pickles, often with dill-flavoured vinegar.
Some cultivars have significantly higher levels of vitamins A and C. Many people find the fruit to be indigestible: this is due to the high cellulose content. Oil from the seed is used in salad dressings and French cooking.
The leaf juice is emetic and used to treat dyspepsia in children. The fruit may be used as a natural remedy.
The fruit is applied to the skin as a cleansing cosmetic to soften and whiten it. The juice is used in many beauty products.
Cucumber Allergy Test: Allergen Description
One allergen present in cucumber has been characterised, a profilin.
Cucumber Allergy Test: Potential Cross-Reactivity
An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus could be expected, as well as to a certain degree among members of the family Cucurbitaceae, such as watermelon, melon, and cucumber.
An association between ragweed pollinosis and hypersensitivity to Cucurbitaceae vegetables and banana has been reported.
There is cross-allergenicity among celery, cucumber, carrot, and watermelon.
Cross-reactivity was demonstrated among pumpkin, pumpkin seed, muskmelon, watermelon, cucumber and zucchini.
Cucumber Allergy Test: Clinical Experience
Cucumber can induce symptoms of food allergy in sensitised individuals. Oral allergy syndrome and pruritis of the lips, tongue and throat have been reported. Contact with cucumber may result in atopic dermatitis or contact urticaria.
In one Indian study of 24 children analysis for a range of food items found that 21 children with documented deterioration in control of their perennial asthma had IgE antibodies directed at cucumber.
Anaphylaxis due to Cucumber is rare but has been reported.
Cultivation of Cucumber in greenhouses may lead to occupational allergy caused by the vegetable or tetranychus mites living on the plants among other mites.
Other reactions
Contact dermatitis to Cucumber has been reported. Cucumber plants produce elevated levels of phytoalexins in their leaves in response to treatment of powdery mildew with a fungicide. Phytoalexins are important causes of contact dermatitis.
Red spider mite found on carnation, Cucumber and vegetable marrow growing in greenhouses may result in occupational asthma and rhinitis.
High levels of nitrate are found in Cucumbers and may be a risk, especially to young children.
FAQs
Why can I eat pickles but not cucumbers? This could be due to an oral allergy syndrome, where raw fruits or vegetables cause allergic reactions, but processed versions do not. The pickling process changes the proteins in cucumbers that usually trigger allergic symptoms, making them safe for some individuals to consume.
How rare is a cucumber allergy? ›
Experiencing an allergic reaction to cucumbers is relatively rare, but it's possible.
What is the most definitive test to confirm food allergies? ›
Oral Food Challenge (OFC) is the most accurate test to determine whether you have a food allergy. It can also determine whether you have outgrown a food allergy. During an OFC, you will eat pre-measured doses of a suspected food allergen and be closely monitored in the clinic for any type of reaction.
Is skin testing for food allergies accurate? ›
A sensitivity to a food can be indicated in a skin prick test or a blood test, but does not always show a true allergy unless there has been a previous reaction to the food. These tests may offer clues about the causes of symptoms, but they cannot determine whether someone has a food allergy with absolute certainty.
Can I eat zucchini if I'm allergic to cucumbers? ›
Cross Reactivity
For instance, there can be a cross-reactivity between zucchini and foods like cucumber, melon, and banana. This is due to the presence of similar allergenic proteins in these foods.
What makes you allergic to cucumber? ›
Cucumber plants produce elevated levels of phytoalexins in their leaves in response to treatment of powdery mildew with a fungicide. Phytoalexins are important causes of contact dermatitis.
What is the rarest food to be allergic to? ›
The most uncommon food allergens include bananas, beef, carrots, celery, corn, fish, garlic, ham, honey, lamb, lemon, malt, onion, orange, pork, pineapple, rice, salmon, sugar, turkey, and vanilla. Reading the ingredient list is the best way to determine if a food contains an allergen.
Is cucumber allergy common? ›
Cucumber allergy is not commonly reported, but it can cause adverse reactions. Cucumbers are in the Cucurbitaceae family of plants which also includes pumpkins and melons. Hypersensitivity reactions to other fruits are commonly reported as well (see below). Cucumbers are popular long, lean, and green garden vegetables.
What is the rarest allergy to have? ›
Aquagenic urticaria, or water allergy, is an extremely rare condition. It causes individuals to develop itchy and painful hives when their skin comes into contact with water.
What is the gold standard for allergy testing? ›
Allergy skin testing is the gold standard and is used along with the medical history to find out exactly what things a person is allergic to. Some medicines can interfere with skin testing, so you should let your allergist know about any medications you're taking. Skin tests are done in an allergist's office.
If you tested negative to all 45 allergens, then you likely have either a sensitivity to a less common allergen or you have nonallergic rhinitis, which just seems like an allergy. At any rate, you certainly can get on with treatment. A combination of nasal sprays, antihistamines and eye drops (if needed) should help.
What happens if you keep eating food you are intolerant to? ›
Food intolerances affect your digestive system. People who suffer from an intolerance, or sensitivity, can't break down certain foods. They develop gas, diarrhea and other problems. An intolerance or food sensitivity is inconvenient but not life-threatening.
How often are food allergy tests wrong? ›
About 50-60 percent of all blood tests and skin prick tests will yield a “false positive” result. This means that the test shows positive even though you are not really allergic to the food being tested.
Are allergy tests ever wrong? ›
Keep in mind, skin tests aren't always accurate. They sometimes show an allergy when there isn't one. This is called a false-positive.
Is a skin test better than a blood test for food allergies? ›
Generally speaking, skin tests are more sensitive than blood tests, meaning they are more likely to detect allergies that a blood test may miss. Skin tests also require less wait time, as results are typically delivered in 15-20 minutes, rather than the one to two-week wait time of blood tests.
Do cucumbers count as pickles? ›
A pickled cucumber – commonly known as a pickle in the United States and Canada and a gherkin (/ɡərkɪn/) in Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand – is a usually small or miniature cucumber that has been pickled in a brine, vinegar, or other solution and left to ferment.
Why do cucumbers make you burp but not pickles? ›
The Best Cucumbers for Eating or Pickling (Plant A Few Different Varieties) When choosing cucumbers, the question is really "to burp, or not to burp?" Cucumbers that make you burp are the ones that make great pickles; the burpiness means they have higher levels of cucurbitacin.
Why do pickles and cucumbers taste different? ›
Pickles, on the other hand, are cucumbers that have been preserved in a brine or vinegar solution. This preservation process gives pickles their tangy and flavorful taste.
Do pickles help with allergies? ›
A lesser known allergy remedy is fermented foods like sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, pickles and miso. Studies show that consuming just a small amount of fermented foods a day has been shown to reduce inflammation and increase microbiome diversity. Last but perhaps most important of all: keep hydrated.
