Allergy to salicylates: introduction
The allergic manifestations caused by aspirin are very frequent: often, if a person has an allergy to aspirin and salicylates, he is also sensitive to other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
It is estimated that around 1% of the population has allergic forms against salicylates, including acetylsalicylic acid:
Symptoms
In general, an allergy or sensitization to an NSAID can cause various symptoms. Reactions typically occur a few hours after taking the drug, and include:- headache
- nasal congestion
- skin color change
- skin rash
- itching and hives
- swelling of hands, feet and face
- gastric pain
- redness in the eyes
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- swelling of the lips and tongue
- cough, gasping, shortness of breath
- anaphylaxis (serious life-threatening allergic reaction)
- in rare cases there is also a change in pressure with loss of knowledge.
In the event that a person is asthmatic or suffering from chronic sinusitis, suffers from urticaria or present nasal polyps, the likelihood of an allergic reaction to acetylsalicylic acid, and that the symptoms listed above are triggered with greater intensity, is very high.
It should be emphasized that the effects caused by an allergic reaction to aspirin are very different from the side effects caused by it; among the latter we mention stomach pain, gastrointestinal ulcers, bleeding in the stomach (gastric hemorrhage), tinnitus (perception of a noise in the ears or in the head, although no sound comes from outside), all effects that have nothing to what to see with the typical consequences of allergic manifestations.
Foods that contain salicylates
It is also important to remember that some foods can also cause allergic reactions of this type: the table shows some foods containing salicylates, to be avoided if the person is allergic to aspirin and other NSAIDs.| CONCENTRATION OF SALICILATI IN FOOD FOODS | |
| High | Tea, wine, coffee, nuts, berries, apples, apricots, avocados, grapes, grapefruit, melon, jams, jellies, cucumbers, tomatoes, asparagus, peppers, corn, licorice, spices, nuts |
| Average | Lemon, mango, pears, coconut, pistachios, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, garlic, mushrooms, onions, potatoes |
| Low | Bananas, kiwi, mango, papaya, wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, parsley, cabbage, peas, brussels sprouts, lettuce, leek, lentils |
