Millions of people with seasonal pollen allergies are also allergic to fresh fruits and nuts, according to the Allergy and Asthma Network. The condition is called oral allergy syndrome. As many as one out of every three persons with pollen allergies is allergic to fruits with similar proteins. The symptoms include itching mouth and throat, swelling in and around the mouth and tingling tongue and ears.
Identification
Oral allergy syndrome is a cross reaction to proteins found in fruits or nuts in the same botanical family. Persons who are already sensitized to a pollen such as birch pollen may find they cannot eat fruits with similar proteins. If you are allergic to a specific pollen, the reaction may cross over to related plants and fruits. You may find the fruit or nut allergy is worse during hay fever season, and better when you aren't suffering from hay fever.
Types
Oral allergy syndrome is different from food intolerance in that it is caused by antibodies to the pollen or fruit. Food intolerance is due to a lack of enzymes needed to digest a particular food, food poisoning or irritable bowel syndrome. Food intolerance symptoms can resemble symptoms of oral allergy syndrome but also often include stomach or abdominal pain, diarrhea or nausea.
Effects
According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, common pollen allergies such as birch, ragweed, grass, alder or latex can trigger food allergies. If you are allergic to birch pollen, you may also experience oral allergy symptoms if you eat apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, nectarines, prunes, strawberries, kiwi, carrots, celery, potatoes, peppers, fennel, parsley, coriander, parsnips, hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts.
If you are allergic to ragweed, you may also be allergic to bananas, melons, zucchini, cucumber, dandelions and chamomile tea. Latex allergy can also make you sensitive to bananas as well as avocado, kiwi, chestnut and papaya.
Grass pollen crosses over to allergies to peaches, celery, melons, tomatoes and oranges. If you are allergic to mugwort, you may also be allergic to celery, apple, kiwi, peanut, fennel, carrots, parsley, coriander, sunflower and peppers. Similarly, if you are allergic to alder, you may find you cannot eat celery, pears, apples, almonds, cherries, hazelnuts, peaches or parsley without itching.
Prevention/Solution
The solution is to avoid eating the foods that trigger oral allergy syndrome. You can also cook them, as cooking changes the allergens in the fruit or nuts so that they don't trigger the immune system. You may be allergic to only part of the fruit, such as the apple peel, and find that you can eat the fruit raw if you peel it. Sometimes you may find that the riper the fruit is, the more you react.
Warning
As with other allergies, oral allergy syndrome can result in extreme reactions, even anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. According to MayoClinic.com, anaphylaxis causes your blood pressure to drop suddenly and your airways to narrow, blocking normal breathing. Symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse, a skin rash and nausea and vomiting. Call for emergency assistance immediately if you begin to experience any of these symptoms.
References
- Allergy and Asthma Network: Oral Allergy Syndrome
- HealthCentral: Itchy Throat? It's Called Oral Allergy Syndrome
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Oral Allergy Syndrome
- University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey: Some Fruits, Vegetables May Exacerbate Oral Ragweed Allergies for Hay Fever Sufferers
- Mayo Clinic: Anaphylaxis
