Onion Allergy: Prevention, Symptoms & Management

If you eat or touch onions and you break out in a rash or suffer from stomach upset or bloating, you may have a food allergy or intolerance to onions. Symptoms related to onion allergy can include hives, itching, bloating, cramping, gas, nausea, diarrhea and headaches. Preventing allergic reactions to onions requires avoiding them altogether.

Instructions

• 1

  Don̵7;t eat onions. Even cooked onions can cause problems for some people. Read all labels and ask for ingredients in recipes when you order in restaurants. The best way to avoid onion allergy symptoms is to avoid onions.

• 2

  Avoid touching onions. Some people are so sensitive to onions that they have allergy symptoms even when they touch onions.

• 3

  Don̵7;t eat foods that may have cross-reactivity to onions. Cross-reactivity occurs when you develop allergy symptoms to foods in the same food group as a food you are allergic to. Asparagus, chives, garlic and onion are all members of the same food group.

• 4

  Try taking antihistamines to prevent onion allergy symptoms. Antihistamines will counteract the histamine that your body releases when you are exposed to onions.