If you have hay fever, eating certain foods may trigger allergy symptoms after consuming certain raw fruits, vegetables and nuts. Pollen-food allergy syndrome is a common result of cross-reactivity between certain pollens and proteins found in some foods. If you notice tingling in your mouth, throat or lips after consuming fruits, vegetables or nuts, call your allergist for further evaluation.
What Causes the Condition?
Pollen-food allergy syndrome, also known as oral allergy syndrome, mostly occurs in people who have allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever. Allergic rhinitis causes chronic nasal symptoms resulting from an allergy to airborne substances, such as mold spores and pollen. Food-pollen allergy syndrome occurs when your immune system mistakes the proteins in some foods as pollen from grass, tree or weed. This immune system mistake is called cross-reactivity. Most symptoms from pollen-food allergy syndrome are minor, but in rare cases, the reaction has triggered anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms from this condition include tingling, itching or burning in the mouth, lips, tongue and throat after eating raw fruits, vegetables or nuts. You may experience other common hay fever symptoms, such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, watery eyes and itching in your ears. Common symptoms only last a few minutes and may be prevented by cooking the food before eating. Cooking the food can modify the proteins in the food, avoiding the confusion in your immune system. Anaphylactic symptoms may include swelling in the throat, the inability to breathe, lightheadedness, hives and a rapid heart rate. If you develop any of these symptoms, call your doctor.
Common Triggers
MayoClinic.com identifies common food-pollen triggers. If you're allergic to birch pollen, eating raw apples, celery, peaches, pears, potatoes, carrots and hazelnuts may trigger food-pollen allergy syndrome symptoms. Consuming bananas, tomatoes, honeydew, watermelon and cantaloupe may cause symptoms if you're allergic to ragweed pollen. Mugwort pollen may cause cross-reactivity when you eat kiwi, apple, celery, parsley, peppers, sunflower seeds, coriander, peanuts or fennel.
Treatment
Aside from cooking the fruits, vegetables or nuts, sublingual immunotherapy may be available from your allergist. This type of treatment is similar to allergy shots, but instead of receiving an infection, you place common allergen extracts under your tongue to desensitize your immune system. This method has not been approved by the FDA and is still under study. Talk with your allergist about the potential risks and benefits of this treatment option.
