Allergy Papaya Enzyme Assay Skin
What is this test?
Allergy papaya skin test is used to test the sensitization of your skin to the papaya. This test helps in knowing the immune response to the papaya and its products. In this test, your skin is slightly pricked and introduced to the papaya products.
What is papaya allergy?
Papaya is a tropical and subtropical fruit which is orange-yellow in color. This belongs to the Caricaceae family. It is soft, round and plump and it comes in all sizes. Besides its flavor, papaya has many health benefits as it is very rich in nutrients. It is also used in preparing some herbal medicines. Papaya has a chemical called papain, it is used as a meat tenderizer. It also acts as an antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune stimulator. Papaya allergy may happen when the immune system mistakes the proteins in the cells of papaya for a foreign substance. Then the body produces a reaction similar to the one created during an attack of bacteria or virus. The symptoms of papaya allergy include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, skin rashes, itching, hives, redness, stomach cramps, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tightening in the throat, etc.
Sometimes the allergic reactions can be life-threatening causing narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Very less often papaya allergy may cause an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency condition which leads to facial flushing, itching, shock, sudden fall in blood pressure, constriction of airways, swollen throat, difficulty to breathe, etc.
Foods to be avoided:
Avoid foods which contain papaya products in them. Fruit juices, fruit salads that contain papaya in it or any food items with papaya flavors, etc. Not only papaya fruit also avoid having any plant products of the papaya made of its leaves or seeds. Medicinal or herbal products which contain papaya should be avoided.
Why this test is recommended?
This test may be recommended to you if experience symptoms like swelling of the face, lips, tongue, skin rashes, itching, hives, redness, stomach cramps, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tightening in the throat, etc immediately after consuming papaya or its products. This test may be recommended to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment given for the papaya allergy.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Allergy Papaya Enzyme Assay Skin. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Allergy Papaya Enzyme Assay Skin.
No specific preparation is required for this papaya allergy skin test.
Understanding your test results
After getting exposed to papaya contents if you develop hives, which are raised bumps at the test location that are at least 3mm in size may indicate that you have an allergy to papaya.
If there is no reaction or hives present on the skin after getting exposed to the papaya contents then it may indicate that you are not allergic to papaya.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | A wheal and flare reaction of atleast 3mm indicates that the patient is allergic to the substance |