Do you know a pollen allergy will be accountable for a sort of meals allergy? In case your baby complains about an itchy mouth or throat after consuming sure fruits or greens, their signs may very well be associated to a pollen allergy. That is referred to as oral allergy syndrome (OAS) or pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS).
Signs of Oral Allergy Syndrome
With OAS/PFAS, your baby could have a few of these signs after consuming sure uncooked fruits, greens, seeds, or nuts:
- Itchy or tingling mouth, tongue, or throat
- Swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat
- Hives the place the meals touched their pores and skin
As a result of these signs are just like IgE mediated meals allergy, they are often complicated. More often than not, pollen-related oral allergy reactions should not extreme. However hardly ever, it could actually set off a extreme allergic response referred to as anaphylaxis [anna-fih-LACK-sis]. It is very important know in case your baby has OAS/PFAS or a meals allergy and the right way to deal with it.
Pollen and Oral Allergy Syndrome
This syndrome is a type of contact allergic response. This occurs due to cross-reactivity to pollen. The immune system confuses the pollen of sure timber, grasses, and weeds with related proteins of sure uncooked greens, fruits, nuts, or seeds. The pollen is just like the proteins in some meals, so your physique can’t inform the distinction. So in case you are allergic to birch pollen, your physique may assume it’s invading them if you eat an apple.
Allergy symptoms to birch, alder, ragweed, mugwort, Timothy grass, and orchard grass pollen trigger most OAS/PFAS signs. Signs could also be worse on the peak of those pollen seasons.
Oral Allergy Syndrome and Anaphylaxis
The signs of OAS sound just like anaphylaxis. So what’s the distinction?
Anaphylaxis comes on shortly and often impacts a couple of organ system (a part of the physique), such because the pores and skin or mouth, the lungs, the center, and the intestine. Some signs embody:
- Pores and skin rashes, itching, or hives
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
- Shortness of breath, hassle respiratory, or wheezing (whistling sound throughout respiratory)
- Dizziness and/or fainting
- Abdomen ache, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Feeling like one thing dangerous is about to occur
Anaphylaxis have to be handled with epinephrine straight away for the perfect probability of stopping the allergic response.
OAS signs, equivalent to itching and tingling, are often gentle and largely have an effect on the mouth. The signs don’t final very lengthy.
However name your physician in case your baby’s OAS:
- Will get worse
- Occurs once they eat nuts or cooked vegatables and fruits
- Triggers any of the above signs of anaphylaxis
In case your baby has OAS signs to nuts, this might really be indicators of anaphylaxis. See a board-certified allergist as quickly as potential. Nuts usually tend to trigger a severe allergic response.
What to Do If You Suppose Your Baby Has Oral Allergy Syndrome
In case your baby has any meals allergy or OAS signs, discuss with a board-certified allergist. They’ll do allergy testing and assessment your baby’s medical historical past to find out what kind of meals allergy your baby has. In case your baby has OAS, the allergist could deal with their pollen allergy with immunotherapy (allergy drops or photographs).
In case your baby has a pollen allergy however doesn’t have signs when consuming uncooked vegatables and fruits, they will nonetheless eat them. They don’t must keep away from the associated meals.
In case your baby does have OAS/PFAS, discuss along with your baby’s allergist to resolve whether or not or not it’s good to take away these meals out of your baby’s eating regimen. Your baby might be able to eat the meals cooked or with the skins eliminated. This removes the proteins that set off the reactions. An instance of that is somebody with a birch allergy who has signs when consuming uncooked apples however can eat applesauce simply high quality.
Editor’s Observe: We printed this weblog initially in Could 2021 and up to date it in August 2025.
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