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See an Oral Allergy Syndrome Specialist in New Orleans
Oral Allergy Syndrome Chart & Treatment in New Orleans, LA
Dr. Reena Mehta is a board-certified allergist that can help you get to the bottom of your oral allergy reactions and help you determine if you have oral allergy syndrome in New Orleans, LA. View our oral allergy syndrome chart for more information.
“Dr. Mehta has a great bedside manner and is great with our daughter. She helped us navigate the most up to date treatment options for food allergies in our 9 month old and dedicated one on one attention to us that went above and beyond the norm. She is professional and kind and has a genuine care for her patients. Highly recommend!“
– Parker Valergo, 2019
Overview
Symptoms
Treatment
FAQs
People who have pollen allergies might also be allergic to certain raw vegetables, uncooked fruits, nuts, and spices. For example, if you have a birch pollen allergy, you may have reactions triggered by peaches, apples, pears, kiwi, plum coriander, fennel, parsley, celery, cherries, and carrots. This is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS), also known as pollen fruit syndrome or pollen fruit syndrome (PFS).
Oral Allergy Syndrome Chart
Pollen | Nuts | Vegetables | Spices | Fruits |
Birch tree | Soybeans, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts | Carrot, celery, parsley | Caraway, fennel, coriander, aniseed | Apples, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, pears |
Ragweed | Zucchini, cucumber | Cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, kiwi, bananas | ||
Mugwort weed | Celery, carrot, bell pepper, black pepper, garlic, onion | Paprika, caraway, fennel, coriander, aniseed | Grapes, mangoes | |
Grass | Peanuts | Swiss chard | Melons, tomatoes, oranges |
Fruits and vegetables related to the ones that cause pollen fruit syndrome symptoms can also trigger allergic reactions. For example, in North America, most patients who are allergic to melons like honeydew, watermelon, and cantaloupe have a weed-pollen allergy. These individuals are also more likely to react to other foods related to melons such as avocado, banana, peach, or kiwi [2-4].
Foods that cause pollen fruit syndrome can also cause food allergy. However, oral allergy syndrome is not the same as an isolated food allergy. For instance, some people experience localized mouth, tongue, or throat irritation when eating pineapple. However, this does not mean they have OAS. By definition, patients with PFS must also demonstrate sensitivity to pollen when they react to certain problematic foods.
Eggs, seafood, and cowโs milk are non-plant foods. They do not cause PFS.
Oral allergy syndrome symptoms typically affect the mouth or throat. Symptoms begin a few minutes after eating the problematic food, however, they usually subside once the food has been swallowed.
Oral allergy syndrome symptoms can vary in severity depending on current pollen conditions and other factors. They are most severe during pollen season and for a few months after. Eating a very large amount of the problematic food, exercising intensely after eating, and drinking alcohol can cause more severe symptoms. Illness and certain medications can also worsen symptoms.
Common oral allergy syndrome symptoms include:
- Itchiness of the mouth and throat
- Tingling of the lips, mouth, or throat
- Slight swelling and bumps on the mouth or lips
Less common oral allergy syndrome symptoms include:
- Itching, redness, or slight swelling of the hands if they are used to handle or peel raw fruits or vegetables
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Throat tightness, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing
Oral Allergy Syndrome Natural Cures
There are more natural cures and treatments to oral allergy syndrome. Because the allergen is often found on the skin of fruits and vegetables, peeling the skin off may help reduce OAS symptoms or prevent a reaction. However, this does not always work. Heat can help destroy protein allergens that cause OAS. Cooked and canned fruits and vegetables are usually okay to eat because the allergens are deactivated.
Oral Allergy Syndrome Diet Plan
By creating an oral allergy syndrome diet plan that includes avoiding certain fruits and vegetables in their raw forms, is a great way to prevent oral allergy syndrome symptoms. Avoiding dehydrated forms of problematic foods is also important because dried foods are not usually cooked. Therefore, they can still cause OAS symptoms.
If the problematic food has already been eaten, note that for most people, oral allergy syndrome symptoms usually stop as soon as food is swallowed and allergens are destroyed by stomach acid.
Oral Allergy Syndrome Medications
However, H1 antihistamines like Claritin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl can help reduce symptoms of OAS once they do occur.
Some patients can experience severe symptoms with OAS that do not resolve quickly. In these cases, it is best to carry an epinephrine autoinjector, or Epi-Pen, for injecting epinephrine when a severe allergic reaction like anaphylaxis occurs.
Is oral allergy syndrome dangerous?
What foods cause oral allergy syndrome?
Does oral allergy syndrome go away?
How do you get rid of oral allergy syndrome?
Does Benadryl help oral allergy syndrome?
References
[1] American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: https://www.aaaai.org/
[2] Melon and banana sensitivity coincident with ragweed pollinosis. Anderson LB Jr, Dreyfuss EM, Logan J, Johnstone DE, Glaser J. J Allergy. 1970;45(5):310.
[3] Randomized, double-blind, crossover challenge study in 53 subjects reporting adverse reactions to melon (Cucumis melo). Rodriguez J, Crespo JF, Burks W, Rivas-Plata C, Fernandez-Anaya S, Vives R, Daroca P. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000;106(5):968.
[4] Nowak-Wฤgrzyn, A. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of oral allergy syndrome (pollen-food allergy syndrome). UpToDate. Accessed August 2020.
[5] Nowak-Wฤgrzyn, A. Management and prognosis of oral allergy syndrome (pollen-food allergy syndrome). UpToDate. Accessed August 2020.
[6] Nowak-Wฤgrzyn, A. Patient education: Oral allergy syndrome (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. Accessed August 2020.
[7] IgE-mediated allergy from vegetable allergens. Ortolani C, Pastorello EA, Farioli L, Ispano M, Pravettoni V, Berti C, Incorvaia C, Zanussi C. Ann Allergy. 1993;71(5):470.
See an Oral Allergy Syndrome Specialist
in New Orleans
If food reactions are complicating your life, see a specialist in New Orleans, LA. Doctor Mehta has a reputation for developing strong relationships with her patients and being exceptionally attentive to their needs and concerns.
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