Peachtree Allergy & Asthma

Peaches grow on deciduous trees and are of the rose family of flowering plants. Peach trees are indigenous to China and produce fruit in climates where temperatures reach between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The pollinating season for peach trees starts in the spring and lasts throughout the summer, thriving in hot summer temperatures. People with pollen allergies and allergies to other fruits and vegetables are predisposed to a peach tree allergy.

Significance

• Individuals with peach allergies typically present allergies to pollens such as birch tree and mugwort pollens and to other fruits, vegetables and nuts associated with the rose family such as almonds, plums, apricots, apples and cherries. People who are sensitized to peaches present symptoms upon consumption due to histamine releases that cause mucus secretions and inflammation of the breathing and nasal passages, which leads to an array of allergy and asthma symptoms.

Symptoms

• Eating peaches can cause digestive reactions such as nausea, vomiting and reflux in allergic individuals. Skin reactions such as eczema or rashes and nervous system symptoms of fatigue or migraines can occur. People with allergies to related pollens may experience cross-reactions including allergic rhinitis symptoms of congestion, runny nose, sneezing and conjunctivitis and allergic asthma reactions of chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.

Cross-Reactivity

• Cross-reactive allergens are foods that the body confuses for a pollen allergen due to a similarity in the molecular structure of the related pollen and food. Peaches are cross-reactive with birch, goosefoot, latex and mugwort pollen, meaning people with allergies to such pollens or foods related to those pollens may experience allergies when consuming peaches. Cross-reactive allergies typically cause oral allergy syndrome (OAS) when eating peaches.

Oral Allergy Syndrome

• Oral allergy syndrome reactions present most often when allergic individuals eat raw food versus cooked or peeled fruits and vegetables. Reactions include swelling, itching and tickling of the tongue, mouth and throat and tightening of the throat or difficulty swallowing in severe cases. OAS can trigger or exacerbate allergic asthma leading to constricted breathing and asthma attacks.

Treatment

• Eliminating exposure to peaches and cross-reactive pollens reduces the onset of symptoms in allergic people. Peeling peaches or cooking them prior to consumption can be effective for some people with mild symptoms. Taking oral antihistamines defends the body against histamine releases during OAS and rhinitis reactions. Applying topical antihistamines or corticosteroid creams help reduce skin irritation resulting from eating peaches. Allergic-asthma medications such as beta-antagonists, leukotriene modifiers and inhaled corticosteroids relieve asthma symptoms by opening the airways.