Oral Allergy Syndrome
Oral allergy syndrome is a cross reaction of certain fresh foods and inhalant allergies.
People who have IgE antibodies for certain seasonal allergies (birch, grass, ragweed, mugwart) and latex, can have symptoms when certain fresh fruits, vegetables, spices or even a few nuts are ingested. This is not a true allergy, but the IgE antibody produced against the inhalant (for example: birch tree) will attach to a protein in the food.
- Birch-spice-mugwart syndrome
- Birch-celery-spice-mugwart syndrome
- Pollen-food allergy syndrome
- Mouth itching
- Throat itching
- Lip itching
- Lip swelling
- Abdominal pain
- Throat swelling
- Blood pressure dropping (hypotension)
The proteins responsible for this frequently is lie under the skin of the fruit/vegetable. Some people can tolerate if the food is peeled.
The protein is heat unstable. If the food is thoroughly cooked the protein is denatured (destroyed) and the food can be eaten with out symptoms.
A partial list of related foods:
Birch: Apple, Carrot, Cherry, Hazelnut, Parsnip, Pear, Plum, Onion, Tomato, Wheat, Buckwheat, Celery, Fennel, Peanut, Peach, Potato, Spinach, Walnut, Nectarine, Kiwi
Grass: Melon, Orange, Tomato, Watermelon
Mugwart: Apple, Carrot, Celery, Melon, Spices, Chamomile tea, Watermelon, Coriander, Fennel, Parsley, Peppers,
Ragweed: Banana, Melon, Chamomile tea, Sunflower seeds
Latex: Avocado, Banana, Kiwi fruit, Chestnut