Oral Allergy Syndrome

Oral Allergy Syndrome, also known as Pollen Allergy Syndrome is usually caused when people are allergic to the pollen of the birch tree. People who suffer from Oral Allergy Syndrome get itching in their mouth, tingling and even symptoms of throat swelling after eating a number of foods, usually raw fruits and nuts.

People who have high levels of allergic antibodies to the common Birch Pollen allergens usually develop symptoms on eating one or more of the following raw fruits:

• apple
  
• cherry
  
• pear
  
• plum

Less common foods that cause reactions in those who have birch pollen allergy are:

• hazelnut
  
• celery
  
• carrot
  
• soybean
  
• peanut kiwi
  
• banana
  
• pineapple
  
• stone fruits like peach and apricot
  
• potato (especially cutting up raw potatoes when a person with oral allergy syndrome may develop itchy hands. Wearing gloves usually helps the problem)
  
• tomato (especially cutting up raw tomato when a patient may develop itchy hands)

Treatment

The treatment of Oral Allergy Syndrome is to preferably cook the food before eating it, as cooking changes the food components so that they no longer appear similar to birch pollen allergens and do not trigger an allergic response. It is important to discuss the nature of the reactions with your allergy specialist. Whilst Oral Allergy Syndrome can be alarming, it is only very rarely associated with severe allergic reactions so it is usually not necessary to provide treatment for anaphylaxis. Sometimes desensitisation (Immunotherapy ) may be offered for oral allergy syndrome. The effectiveness of desensitisation to birch pollen (injection immunotherapy) has not been proven for Oral Allergy Syndrome so it is important to discuss options with your allergy specialist. Sublingual immunotherapy may be an options.

  Make an appointment with Melbourne Allergy Asthma & Immunology Consultants to discuss your treatment option for oral allergy syndrome.