Salicylate allergy: what is it?

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A salicylate allergy is more appropriately defined as an intolerance or insensitivity to salicylates. With some people, consuming salicylates found in drugs such as aspirin, cosmetics, and in a variety of food substances creates an adverse reaction that can be minor or major. This reaction is often individualized, depending on the person’s tolerance level to salicylates. Some people may have a relatively high tolerance, but will still show signs of allergy or intolerance to salicylates if they exceed a certain threshold for salicylate exposure. Others react almost immediately to ingestion or skin contact with salicylates and must avoid them almost completely.

There are a number of potential symptoms that suggest a salicylate allergy. The most severe reactions are anaphylactic shock reactions and these typically show the onset of hives (hives) and swelling of the face, lips, mouth and tongue. With this reaction, breathing can become significantly impaired and people may wheeze or appear to have asthma. It is important to receive emergency care if such a reaction occurs, regardless of the substance, because breathing can become severely depressed, endangering the patient’s life.

Less severe reactions can also be observed with salicylate allergy. Some people develop rashes or hives in different parts of the body. Wheezing may also occur, but breathing is not as impaired as when anaphylactic shock is present. People may develop other symptoms such as a runny nose and cough.

For those with severe salicylate allergy, doctors often help plan diets consisting of foods low in salicylates, as well as recommending avoidance of medications such as aspirin and possibly other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium . Some of the foods avoided on this diet might include most types of fruit, tomatoes, many forms of vegetables, corn, most nuts and legumes, most spices, honey, yeast, tea, coffee, juice of fruit and wine. These foods can make up such a large part of the diet, that nutritional substitutes can be difficult to find.

In truth, most people with a salicylate allergy are able to tolerate low to medium levels of salicylates without reactions, and there are a number of foods that may fall into this class, or people may be able to eat small amounts of foods that more occasionally contain levels of salicylates. With allergists or immunologists, patients can do some experiments in safe places, where anaphylaxis could be treated right away, to determine exactly how much tolerance they may have for dietary salicylates.

While there are many informative websites listing high, low, and medium salicylate foods, the person with a severe salicylate allergy should not attempt to address this issue on their own. It is possible for people to experience stronger reactions over time, and it is strongly advised that people get help from a well-educated doctor or nutritionist in determining which foods and medicines are safer to consume. The difficulty of the treatment revolves around finding individual safe consumption levels so that people suffer the least effects of this condition.

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