If you notice that every time you eat bananas your mouth is itchy, it may be related to hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia states that certain fruits and vegetables can cause itching to occur in your mouth if you have been diagnosed with hay fever. This condition is commonly confused with a food allergy because of its relation to certain foods, but it is the product of cross-reactivity between the proteins found in bananas and the pollen from certain trees. Talk with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.
Hay Fever Background
Hay fever is a chronic allergy condition that is related to seasonal allergies, commonly caused by increased pollen levels. Once pollen from grasses, weeds or trees are inhaled, they can trigger an allergic reaction that primarily causes symptoms to develop within the respiratory system. Common symptoms associated with a pollen allergy include sneezing, watery eyes, nasal congestion and asthma. Pollen-related allergies are most effectively treated by eliminating exposure to the allergen.
Banana Connection
An itchy mouth that develops after you've eaten a banana is most likely related to oral allergy syndrome. This condition occurs when your body's immune system mistakes the proteins found in the banana with certain pollen. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia states that latex and ragweed pollens can trigger oral allergy syndrome when you eat a banana. You should report all symptoms to your doctor for further evaluation.
Symptoms
Symptoms from oral allergy syndrome after eating a banana may include itching or swelling in the lips, throat and mouth. You may also develop irritation in your nose, eyes and gums, which typically develops within a few minutes after eating the banana, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Your chances of developing an itchy mouth after eating a banana are greater during hay fever season, typically during the spring, summer or fall, according to MayoClinic.com.
Treatment
An itchy mouth after eating bananas can be treated by avoiding consuming bananas, cooking the bananas before eating them or participating in sublingual immunotherapy. Sublingual immunotherapy is a modified version of receiving allergy shots. A small amount of the allergen is placed under your tongue, and over time, the allergist slowly increases the amount of the allergen to desensitize your immune system to it, according to Oprah.com. Taking an antihistamine will also help alleviate your symptoms but may not be necessary if symptoms don't last long.
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