Honeydew Allergy

The honeydew is a large, yellow melon with moist, sweet flesh. Although it is rather uncommon to have an allergy to honeydew melon, they do occur, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Consult an allergist to determine if you have an allergy to honeydew or other types of melon. People with food allergies often are allergic to more than one type of food or allergen. Do your best to completely avoid the fruit if you have an allergy to honeydew melon.

You can be allergic to virtually any food. While children sometimes "outgrow" allergies, adults, for the most part, do not. If you have an allergy to honeydew melon, avoid fruit juices and salads that contain the ingredient. Food allergies are somewhat unusual — about 3 to 4 percent of adults have one or more food allergies, according to the Mayo Clinic. Rarely, a severe condition called anaphylaxis can occur during an allergy, which requires emergency medical attention.

If you are allergic to honeydew melon, you may need to avoid ragweed pollen, cantaloupe, watermelon and tomatoes as well. This is due to a pollen-food allergy syndrome, sometimes called "oral allergy syndrome." This cross-reactivity occurs because the allergen-causing proteins in ragweed and honeydew melon are similar, notes the Mayo Clinic. Consult your allergist to test your reactions to different allergens.

Symptoms of an allergy to honeydew melon can crop up within minutes of eating it, or up to several hours later. Some of the first symptoms of a food allergy are often hives, rash, hoarse voice and wheezing. You may also experience abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea and itching of the mouth, throat, eyes or face. It is common to have shortness of breath, coughing or congestion.

Normally, your immune system defends against harmful substances, but when you have a food allergy, your body is recognizing the food as a toxin, and responding at full force. The body creates immunoglobulin E antibodies to a particular food and releases histamine. Histamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of a food allergy — such as runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.