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Plum Allergy

Plums or foods that contain plums cause a reaction in the body's immune system, producing an immunoglobulin and histamine response in individuals who are allergic to plums. Plum allergies are a result of either of two syndromes: a birch-pollen allergy and a peach allergy.

  1. Birch-Pollen Allergy

    • Birch-pollen allergies, called birch-fruit syndrome, cause itching and inflammation of the mouth and throat. Cooking plums can eliminate this allergic reaction.

    Peach Allergy

    • Abdominal pain, vomiting and other symptoms, some of which are life-threatening, arise from the peach allergy. The allergy--which can extend to nuts and many fruits with peels, including peaches, apples, apricots and cherries--is not affected by cooking or juicing.

    Treatments

    • Eliminating plums from the diet is often required. If symptoms of the allergic reaction are mild, there is no treatment. Antihistamines are useful for skin conditions caused by an allergic reaction to plums. Steroids can be administered for moderate reactions, and an adrenaline device, such as the auto-injector EpiPen, can be used for anaphylaxis, which is potentially life-threatening.

    Genetics

    • Individuals may be genetically predisposed to food allergies. According to NetDoctor, individuals whose family members are allergic to plums are much more likely to become allergic than individuals who do not have a plum allergy in the family.

    Development

    • Food allergies, including plum allergy, develop from antibodies that the immune system produces to react to foreign proteins. These antibodies often attack the tissue in the body instead of the foreign substance. Allergies do not develop until the related food has been consumed more than once. Introduction might already have occurred, however, if plums were an ingredient in another food and eaten inadvertently.

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