Yes, you can be allergic to watermelon seeds, although documented cases are rare.
While watermelon seeds are commonly found in teas and snack products, the potential for them to cause allergies hasn't been widely studied.
Here's what we know:
- Rarity: Little is known about the potential allergenicity of watermelon seeds with no current published cases that we are aware of describing watermelon seed allergy.
- Case Study: A specific case report documents a patient experiencing an IgE-mediated anaphylactic reaction to watermelon seed paste.
- IgE-mediated reaction: This type of reaction indicates a true allergy, where the body's immune system mistakenly identifies watermelon seed proteins as harmful.
Therefore, although allergies to watermelon seeds appear to be uncommon, they are possible and can cause a severe allergic reaction like anaphylaxis in sensitized individuals.
