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What Are the Signs of an Allergic Reaction to Pistachios?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

The signs of an allergic reaction to pistachios can include coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Some people also develop asthma symptoms or hives because of this allergy. An individual may also experience nausea and diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. In a severe case, a life-threatening reaction can occur and include chest tightness, breathing difficulties, and swelling of the face and throat.

Among the possible signs of a pistachio allergy are upper-respiratory symptoms. For example, a person who is allergic to these tree nuts could develop itchy eyes and sneezing after consuming them. Some people with this allergy may also notice that their throats itch or that they have the urge to cough. A runny nose and dark circles under the eyes are also common with an allergic reaction — the dark circles are typically due to the sinus inflammation the allergy causes. The extent of these and other signs of a pistachio allergy generally depend on the severity of the allergy.

Woman sneezing due to allergic reaction.
Woman sneezing due to allergic reaction.

Sometimes, the signs of pistachio allergies involve the skin, as some affected people develop hives as a reaction. Hives are itchy, raised bumps that develop on the skin as a result of an allergic reaction. They can appear on any part of the affected person's body and can vary quite a bit in terms of size and number, depending on the severity of the reaction.Interestingly, hives can disappear in one area and then come back to the same area or move on to another part of the body.

Hives on arm.
Hives on arm.

Another sign of an allergic reaction to pistachios is asthma. If an individual who has asthma also has a pistachio allergy, he may experience an increase in asthma symptoms in response to exposure to the nuts. The signs of an asthma attack can include a tightening in the chest, difficulty breathing, wheezing, or coughing. It may also interfere with a person's ability to continue his ordinary activities.

Some people also develop gastrointestinal symptoms, and may experience cramping and diarrhea. An allergic individual might also feel nauseous and vomit after eating them.

Coughing is a common symptom of an allergic reaction to pistachios.
Coughing is a common symptom of an allergic reaction to pistachios.

For some people, the symptoms of a pistachio allergy are both severe and life threatening. They may experience swelling of the face, mouth, and throat; trouble breathing; and abnormal heart rhythms. This type of reaction may also interfere with normal blood flow through the body. Since these signs can prove fatal, urgent medical attention is warranted.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon943398

I am severely allergic to cashews and pistachios; they give me gastrointestinal symptoms. I am completely OK with eating mangoes. Go figure.

Seconds after consuming a food that has even touched a cashew or pistachio, my tongue begins to itch and my mouth swells. My eyes and nose swell and water and within an hour (I've learned to contain it, somewhat) my body rejects the nut protein and violent vomiting occurs for several hours. Within 24-48 hours, the cramping goes away. It's really awful. I wish there were a cure. An epipen does not help someone like me.

anon931463

My throat feels weird after eating pistachios.

anon357772

Pistachios have been my favorite since I was four years old. I'm kind of depressed because I have had horrible burning and itching in the throat since four to six years ago and I'm thinking I may have developed an allergy to them. I pretty much stopped eating them recently and never thought it could be tied to allergies.

anon348422

I ate a pound full pistachios instead of dinner and the next day I was itchy and scratchy all over my back and upper chest. A few weeks later, some cloudy spots appeared on my back that turned into red and painful spots, and every time my muscles get scratched I have very unbearable pain. I tried doing different things to alleviate the pain but nothing helps.

anon333961

You should be also be careful with mangoes and cashews as they are of the same family (Anacardiaceae) as pistachios and (ready for this?) poison ivy!

I'm very allergic to poison ivy and eight years ago found out I cannot eat mangoes. As I write this, I'm recovering from a middle eastern sweet filled with ground pistachios!

anon326799

I just ate a bunch of pistachios and the tip of my tongue has a blister. My tongue is burning and swelling a bit (not too much, just swollen from the side blisters). I drank milk, took one quercetin pill and two fish oils for inflammation. I think the milk really cooled down the fire. I'm such a spaz. I have an allergy to walnuts and this is what happens. My tongue burns, so I ate a whole bunch of pistachios, and the same thing happened last time but I went in denial. *sighs* I guess no more pistachios for me.

They were not organic and I licked the salt off their shells. I wonder if it's an allergy to chemical pesticide that's on them. I'll research that.

I know with peanut allergies, you're allergic to the fungus on them and pet hair allergy is allergy to the dander and dust allergy is allergy to the dust mite feces so maybe if I go back to buying them raw and organic my tongue won't burn and blister.

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    • Woman sneezing due to allergic reaction.
      By: Dessie
      Woman sneezing due to allergic reaction.
    • Hives on arm.
      By: Jürgen Fälchle
      Hives on arm.
    • Coughing is a common symptom of an allergic reaction to pistachios.
      By: Lisa F. Young
      Coughing is a common symptom of an allergic reaction to pistachios.
    • Dark circles under the eyes are common with an allergic reaction to pistachios.
      By: WONG SZE FEI
      Dark circles under the eyes are common with an allergic reaction to pistachios.
    • An allergic reaction to pistachios may manifest as a runny nose.
      By: Ilike
      An allergic reaction to pistachios may manifest as a runny nose.