Peanut butter sandwiches, mango, shrimp and Caesar salads should not taste spicy unless they have a reputation for being spicy.
But a group of Australians revealed that they experienced a strange tingling sensation in their tongues and throats after eating certain foods – only to discover later that they were actually suffering from severe allergic reactions.
This is one of the lesser known severe allergy symptoms that many people are unaware of.
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Former paramedic Nikki Jurkatz sparked debate after sharing a shocking story about a little girl who told her mother that her peanut butter sandwiches suddenly tasted “hot.”
“This was her way of expressing her discomfort, but unfortunately, upon next exposure she experienced a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis,” the founder of child safety group Tiny Hearts Education said in an Instagram post.
“Young children may not be able to clearly describe their symptoms when they are having an allergic reaction, and instead may talk about foods in unusual ways.
“It's important to pay attention to these subtle signs and explanations from children, as they may be trying to communicate an allergic reaction in their own way.”
Nikki Jerkatz, a former paramedic, reveals one of the lesser known symptoms of severe food allergies. Photo credit: @tinyheartseducation
Many parents shared their stories of when they noticed their child was having an allergic reaction.
“My youngest child had the same thing happen to him when he ate certain fruits and vegetables. We looked into it and found out it was a cross-pollination reaction as he is allergic to the pollen of many trees,” one child said.
Another person said: “I'm not saying that eating bananas, cucumbers or fruit punch made me feel 'sad' as a child. It was actually an oral allergic reaction to ragweed pollen.”
One person recalled: “I had to fight with my mom about any food that didn't agree with me – anything spicy, numbing, painful, stinging – because she said, 'We don't waste food in this house.'”
Another added: “My son is now 26 and says, 'Mom, I have fireworks in my mouth.' I still know by the immediate sensation on my tongue if I've come into contact with a nut I'm allergic to.”
Some parents pointed to other sentences their children reported saying when food tasted funny, including “my tongue feels funny,” “my throat feels itchy,” “my lips are tingling,” and “my stomach feels funny.”
“My 19-month-old daughter said, 'it's spicy' and started throwing up. As a pediatric nurse who works with an allergy immunologist, I knew right away,” one mother said of her daughter's first symptoms.
“But I was impressed that she was able to express this at such a young age. Just before she turned three, she did her first food challenge at the hospital. The nurses thought she just didn't want to eat the food for her second dose, but she was refusing because she was feeling sick. The nurses are very in tune.”
Jahkatz shared a shocking story about a little girl who told her mother that her peanut butter sandwich was “spicy.” Photo credit: @tinyheartseducation
Children aren't the only ones who can experience a hot or tingling sensation in their mouth.
Many adults talk about noticing that as they get older, foods suddenly taste “hot.”
“I'm allergic to anchovies, so Caesar salad is too spicy for me, but I didn't realize this until I was in my 20s,” one woman said.
Another person revealed: “I'm allergic to coconuts and used to tell my mum that sucking on them would make my mouth fuzzy, but it actually made me numb! Now that makes sense!”
One person said: “This exact same thing happened to my husband as he grew up. He would eat shrimp and it would taste spicy. All of a sudden, he had a terrible allergic reaction.”
Many people confessed that they had spent their whole lives believing that certain foods tasted “hot.”
“I thought mango was supposed to be spicy…I was like 'so cool, it's like eating glass!'” one person said.
Another person said: “When I eat grapes, any variety, green or purple, they all give me a strange sensation that can only be described as spicy. If I eat green grapes, my throat hurts for a while after eating them.”
One woman warned: “Guys, if anything other than real chili peppers tastes hot, you may have an allergy. Bananas, potatoes, and most fruits and vegetables are not supposed to taste 'hot' or 'tingly'.”
“The exceptions are those that have a reputation for being hot, such as ginger and horseradish (and pineapple).”
A former paramedic urges parents to listen if their kids say something unusual about food. Stock image Credit: Kosamtu/Getty Images
Mr Jurkatz said shellfish was the most common allergic reaction he encountered during his more than eight years working with Ambulance Victoria as a paramedic.
“We don't know why, but this is one of the more common symptoms we see in adults after years of eating, so it's very interesting,” she said.
The mother says there are other allergy symptoms to look out for, including hives, swelling and difficulty breathing.
“Early recognition and response can prevent more severe reactions and keep children safe,” she said.
Many people thanked Jerkatz for sharing this important allergy warning with everyone, especially parents.
“Thank you for shedding light on this issue. Food allergies affect so many people and a little knowledge goes a long way,” one person said.
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