Mango allergy
Mango allergy; skin can also react to the peel.
About mango allergy
Mango is a tropical stone fruit, related botanically to cashew and pistachio and, more distantly, to poison ivy through a group of irritant compounds called urushiols found mainly in the skin. Allergy to the flesh is uncommon and, when it happens, is usually IgE-mediated, with the immune system making antibodies to mango proteins that release histamine on eating. Separately, the peel and sap can cause a delayed, itchy contact rash (a form of dermatitis) around the mouth or on the hands, which is a different mechanism from food allergy.
When a food-allergic reaction occurs it usually starts within minutes to a couple of hours. Symptoms may include an itchy or tingling mouth, hives, swelling and tummy upset, and less commonly wheeze or, rarely, anaphylaxis. The contact reaction to the peel typically appears hours later as an itchy, red, sometimes blistering rash where the skin touched the fruit. Some people sensitised to birch or mugwort pollen experience mild mouth symptoms with mango, and there can be overlap within the cashew family.
Diagnosis is based on your history, supported by skin-prick or specific-IgE testing, and helps separate true allergy from contact dermatitis. Management means avoiding mango, or its peel, according to which reaction you have; peeling the fruit for you and avoiding the skin can help contact-sensitive people. Reading labels on juices, chutneys and desserts is sensible. If you are assessed to be at risk of a severe reaction, carry any prescribed adrenaline auto-injector and call 999 for serious symptoms.
Common triggers
- Mango and products containing it
Symptoms
- Itching or tingling in the mouth
- Hives, itching or eczema
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat
- Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- In severe cases, anaphylaxis
Avoidance & management
- Read ingredient labels every time
- Ask about ingredients and cross-contamination when eating out
- Keep the food out of shared cooking areas
- Carry prescribed antihistamines or an adrenaline auto-injector
- Seek emergency help for any severe reaction
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.