If you haven’t heard of oral allergy syndrome, you’re probably not alone. But if you happen to be like me and suffer from both food and environmental allergies), there’s no better time to become schooled on the subject.

As the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) explains, oral allergy syndrome (also known as pollen-food syndrome), is caused by cross-reacting allergens found in both pollen and raw fruits, vegetables or some tree nuts. The immune system recognizes the pollen and similar proteins in the food and then directs an allergic response to it.1 Interestingly, those affected by oral allergy syndrome can usually eat the same fruits or vegetables in cooked form without becoming symptomatic. This is because the cooking/heating process alters that proteins in such a way that that the immune system no longer recognizes the food.

Young kids are typically not affected by oral allergy syndrome. It’s usually reserved for older children, teens and young adults – those who have been eating the foods in question for years without any problems. Oral allergy syndrome sufferers typically are allergic to birch pollen foods (apples, almonds, carrots, celery, cherries, hazelnuts, kiwi, peaches, pears, plums); ragweed pollen foods (bananas, cucumbers, melons, sunflower seeds, zucchini); or grass pollen foods (celery, melons, oranges, peaches, tomatoes). If you happen to be allergic to birch or alder trees, grass or ragweed in the environment, you’re a candidate for oral allergy syndrome. Note: Not every person who is allergic to birch, ragweed or grass pollens develop the syndrome, and not everyone with oral allergy syndrome will have allergic reactions to all the aforementioned foods.

According to ACAAI, symptoms of oral allergy syndrome may include: itchy mouth, scratchy throat or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue and throat. Itchy ears are also sometimes reported. Symptoms are usually confined to one area and do not normally progress beyond the mouth. Because the symptoms usually subside quickly once the fresh fruit or raw vegetable is swallowed or removed from the mouth, treatment is not usually necessary; however, the ACAAI notes that up to 9% of people have reactions that affect a part of their body beyond their mouth and 1.7% can experience a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock).1 If you’ve had a systemic reaction, see an allergist and consider carrying injectable epinephrine as a precaution. 

Reference
1. American College of Allergies, Asthma & Immunology. Are You Making Your Spring Allergies Worse? http://acaai.org/news/are-you-making-your-spring-allergies-worse