Oral Allergy Syndrome
St. Louis Allergy Clinic for Oral Allergy Syndrome
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), a type of food allergy, is an allergic reaction that is confined to the lips, mouth and throat. Persons who suffer from oral allergy syndrome can benefit from consulting with an allergy specialist in St. Louis. You can develop oral allergy syndrome at any time in life, suddenly experiencing an allergy to certain raw fruits or vegetables. A St. Louis allergy doctor is the specialist best equipped to treat this syndrome. Many people tolerate a challenging condition for years, unaware there may be an allergy treatment in St. Louis available for relief. An allergy doctor in St. Louis can identify the source of your allergy and prescribe a treatment specifically suited to you.
A St. Louis Allergy Doctor Explains Oral Allergy Syndrome
Oral allergy syndrome is due to cross-reactivity between plant proteins from pollen and fruits or
vegetables. When a child or adult in St. Louis who has a pollen allergy eats a fresh fruit or vegetable, the immune system sees the similarity and causes an allergic reaction. Interestingly, our St. Louis allergy clinic works with many patients with oral allergy syndrome who can eat the same fruits or vegetables when they are cooked. The cooking process changes the protein enough that the immune system does not recognize the food as being the same as the pollen anymore. Sometimes foods in the same botanical family will also cause reactions in patients in our allergy clinic in St. Louis. Examples are potato and carrots, parsley and celery or apple and pear.
OAS most commonly occurs in people with asthma or hay fever from tree pollen who eat fresh
(raw) fruits or vegetables. St. Louis allergists find that other pollen allergies may also trigger OAS. Adults appear to be more affected than children when it comes to seeking allergy help in St. Louis for oral allergy syndrome.
St. Louis Asthma Doctor: Symptoms of OAS
Rapid onset of itching or swelling of the lips, mouth, or throat are the most common symptoms
of oral allergy syndrome. Other symptoms may include irritation of the gums, eyes or nose. Symptoms normally appear within minutes of eating the offending food. Symptoms are often worse during the spring and fall pollen seasons in St. Louis.
Once our allergy clinic in St. Louis identifies the source of your allergy, you can learn to avoid the fruits and vegetables that cause a reaction. According to our allergy and asthma specialists in St. Louis, potential pollen cross-reactive foods include:
- Ragweed: Bananas, melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew) zucchini, cucumber, dandelions, chamomile tea
- Birch: Apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, nectarines, prunes, kiwi, carrots, celery, potatoes, peppers, fennel, parsley, coriander, parsnips, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts
- Grass: Peaches, celery, melons, tomatoes, oranges
- Mugwort: Celery, apple, kiwi, peanut, fennel, carrots, parsley, coriander, sunflower, peppers
- Alder: Celery, pears, apples, almonds, cherries, hazelnuts, peaches, parsley
- Latex: Bananas, avocado, kiwi, chestnut, papaya
St. Louis Allergy Treatment for Food Allergy
In most cases OAS does not require medical treatment. Often, the best allergy help is to avoid the offending foods. Many patient at our St. Louis allergy clinic find that peeling and cooking the food will reduce the effects. At times, an antihistamine can effectively relieve the symptoms. In adults and children with severe recurrent OAS, immunotherapy (allergy shots) to the pollen has been useful as an allergy treatment in St. Louis.
If you have experienced allergy symptoms when eating certain foods, an allergist at our St. Louis allergists can help you get relief. From diagnosis to prevention tips to allergy treatment, our St. Louis allergy clinic is here to help. At your appointment, one of the allergists will assess your condition and determine the best treatment method at our St. Louis allergy clinic. We accept many forms of health insurance and our clinic houses some of the most knowledgeable allergy doctors in St. Louis.
More info: https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/outdoor-allergies-and-food-allergies-can-be-relate