COURGETTE ALLERGY

Key Allergens

Courgette is also known as zucchini in the USA, but is also known as marrow and summer squash. Courgettes are grown from the plant Cucurbita pepo, subspecies of this plant also grow pumpkins and gourds. They are rarely documented as causing food allergies.

For those that do experience allergies after consuming courgette the allergens responsible are thought to be plant profilins.

Associated Syndromes

Allergy to courgette has been linked to Latex Food Syndrome, this is caused by the body confusing the proteins it encounters in food to that of latex proteins to which it is already sensitised.

Courgette allergy is also linked to Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome for people who suffer from grass allergies. This is where is the body confuses allergens it is sensitised in grass to those it finds in foods.

Cross Reactivity

Those with a sensitivity to latex may have linked allergies to foods which contain high levels of chitinase, like avocado, chestnuts, corn (maize), kiwi, papaya, pomegranate and tomatoes.

If suffering from Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome you may suffer allergy to grass pollen, pumpkins, cucumber and melons.

Resources

Websites

Allergen Encyclopedia - Pumpkin

DermNet NZ - Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome

Anaphylaxis Campaign - Allergy to Vegetables

Allergy information for: Courgette, zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)

Science Direct - Profilin

Salicylate Sensitivity: Causes, Symptoms and Foods to Avoid

Articles and Journals

Molecular approach to a patient’s tailored diagnosis of the oral allergy syndrome, 2020

Food processing and occupational respiratory allergy‐ An EAACI position paper, 2019

Is fruit and vegetable intake associated with asthma or chronic rhino-sinusitis in European adults? Results from the Global Allergy and Asthma Network of Excellence (GA2 LEN) Survey, 2017

Medicinal bioactivites and allergenic properties of pumpkin seeds: review upon a pediatric food anaphylaxis case report, 2017

A case of allergy to Zucchini, 2012

Turnip and zucchini: New vegetables responsible for crossreactivity between latex and plant-derived foods, 2006

Allergens in celery and zucchini, 2002

Allergy caused by ingestion of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo): characterization of allergens and cross-reactivity to pollen and other foods, 2000

Latex allergy: clinical features and cross-reactivity with fruits, 1994

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