Paprika allergy
Spice allergy to paprika.
About paprika allergy
Paprika is a spice ground from dried red peppers (capsicum), the same botanical family as chilli, sweet peppers, tomato, potato and aubergine. True IgE-mediated allergy to paprika is uncommon, and reactions may also take the form of contact irritation or, occasionally, a delayed skin reaction. Where genuine allergy occurs, the immune system makes antibodies to pepper proteins, and eating or handling paprika triggers a release of histamine and other chemicals. Some people sensitised to mugwort pollen react to a range of spices, of which paprika can be one.
Reactions usually begin within minutes to a couple of hours of eating. Symptoms may include an itchy mouth, hives, swelling, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing and digestive upset; inhaling paprika powder can provoke respiratory symptoms in sensitive people, and handling it can irritate the skin. Serious reactions are uncommon but possible, so any spreading or breathing symptoms should be taken seriously. There can be overlap with other members of the pepper and nightshade family and, in mugwort-sensitised individuals, with celery and other spices.
Diagnosis relies on your history, supported where useful by skin-prick or specific-IgE testing, since allergy and irritation can overlap. Management means avoiding paprika and checking labels and menus, as it is common in seasonings, crisps, sauces, sausages and ready meals, sometimes simply listed as "spices". If you are assessed to be at risk of a serious reaction, an adrenaline auto-injector may be advised, and any severe reaction is a medical emergency: call 999.
Common triggers
- Paprika 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.