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Peanut butter sandwichesmangoes, shrimp, and Caesar salads don’t have to taste spicy—unless they have a hot reputation.
But a group of Australians have revealed they noticed a strange tingling in their tongue or throat when they ate certain foods – only to discover later in life that they were actually suffering from severe allergic reaction.
This is one of the little-known symptoms of serious allergies that many are unaware of.
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Former paramedic Nicky Yurkuts sparked discussion after she shared a moving story about a little girl who told her mother that her peanut butter sandwich had suddenly become “spicy”.
“It was her way of expressing discomfort and unfortunately, during her next exposure, she had a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis,” the founder of the Children’s Safety Organization Education for little hearts said in an Instagram post.
“Sometimes young children may not be able to clearly describe their symptoms during an allergic reaction. Instead, they may talk about their food in an unusual way.
“It is important to pay attention to these subtle signs and descriptions from children, as they may be trying to communicate an allergic reaction in their own way.”
Many parents shared stories of how they discovered their children were suffering from an allergic reaction.
“My youngest was telling me the same thing about eating some fruits and vegetables. I looked into it and it turned out to be a cross-pollination reaction because he is so allergic to a lot of tree pollens,” said one.
Another shared: “It’s not me saying bananas, cucumbers and fruit punch made me feel ‘sad’ as a kid…it was actually an oral allergic reaction to ragweed pollen.”
One recalls: “I had to fight with my mom about foods that weren’t right—spicy, tingly, hurtful, or tingly—because ‘We don’t waste food in this house.’
Another added: “My now 26 year old would say ‘fireworks in my mouth mum.’ Now he still knows by the instant feel of his tongue if he’s been exposed to any of the nuts he’s allergic to.
Some parents pointed to other sentences their children said when their food tasted strange, including: My tongue is funny; My throat is tickled; My lips are burning or; My stomach is funny.
“My 19-month-old daughter could tell us it was ‘spicy’ and spit it out. “Being a pediatric nurse and working with an allergy immunologist, I knew right away,” one mother shared about her daughter’s first symptom.
“But I was impressed that she was able to express that at a young age. At just under three, she tried her first food challenge at the hospital. The nurses thought she just didn’t want to eat the food from the second dose, but she refused because she felt sick. They are so in tune.”
Children aren’t the only ones who experience a “spiciness” or “tingling” sensation in their mouths.
Many adults report noticing later in life that their food suddenly has a “spicy taste.”
“My Caesar salad is spicy because I’m allergic to anchovies. But I didn’t discover that until my 20s,” said one woman.
Another revealed: “I’m allergic to coconut and was telling my mum it was making ‘foam in my mouth’ – turns out it’s tingling! It makes sense now!”
One of them said: “My husband literally had the same thing happen to him as an adult. He was eating shrimp and thought it tasted spicy. He was suddenly super allergic to it.
Many admitted that they had spent their whole lives thinking that certain foods were meant to taste “spicy”.
“I thought mango was supposed to be spicy… I’m like, ‘Look how cool, it feels like you’re eating glass!'” said one.
Another said: “When I eat grapes, no matter what kind, they can be green or purple… They all have a weird sensation that I can only describe as spicy. When I eat green grapes, my throat hurts for a while afterwards.
One woman warned: “PSA guys, if anything other than real pepper tastes hot, you might actually have an allergy. Bananas, potatoes, most fruits and vegetables should not have a “spicy” or “tingly” taste.
“Exceptions are things that have a spicy reputation, like ginger or horseradish (and pineapple).”
Yurkutz said shellfish was the most common allergic reaction she saw as a paramedic when she worked in EMS. Victoria for more than eight years.
“They don’t know why, but it’s one of those that usually appears in adulthood after eating for years — so interesting,” she said.
The mother says there are other allergy symptoms to watch out for, including hives, swelling or difficulty breathing.
“Early recognition and response can prevent more severe reactions and keep your child safe,” she said.
Many thanked Jurcutz for sharing an important reminder about allergies to everyone, especially parents.
“Thank you for shedding light on this. Food allergies affect so many of us and a little knowledge goes a long way,” said one.
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