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Oral Allergy Syndrome Treatment

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) occurs most often in people who regularly experience hay fever or asthma. Symptoms appear when an individual consumes a raw fruit, vegetable or nut that prompts the release of histamine in the body. Unlike seafood allergies in which the food itself is the underlying cause of the reaction, OAS responses are determined by the type of pollen to which a person is allergic.

  1. Symptoms

    • OAS symptoms are usually mild and develop quickly after initial contact with raw food. Swelling, itching and tingling inside the mouth and throat is common. The lips are usually affected as well. Standard hay fever symptoms like irritated eyes, sneezing and rhinitis may also occur. More severe reactions are infrequent and mimic those of a standard food allergy: vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea or difficulty breathing. Anaphylaxis is the most serious consequence of oral allergy syndrome, but it is rare.

    Types

    • There are several categories of OAS. They are grouped according to which type of pollen created the initial sensitivity. Ragweed pollen is usually associated with reactions to foods such as zucchini, banana and cantaloupe. Grass pollen is tied to melons, oranges and tomatoes. Alder and birch pollen both interact with apples, almonds, pears, celery and cherries. Birch is also known to interact with several other fruits including apricots, nectarines and plums.

    Prevention

    • Oral allergy syndrome is most easily prevented by avoiding the specific foods that prompt symptoms -- especially during the spring and fall when pollen counts are high. Cooking or briefly microwaving fruits and vegetables prior to eating can limit or eliminate some reactions. Peeling produce and/or choosing fruits that aren't quite fully ripe sometimes helps reduce the occurrence of OAS. Substituting foods that do not generally cause reactions is one way to keep a healthy level of fresh foods in the diet. Examples include: grapes, figs, pineapple, spinach, broccoli and cabbage.

    Home Treatment

    • Over-the-counter antihistamines are usually sufficient to treat mild OAS symptoms if they do not resolve on their own. It is important to stop eating a food immediately as soon as an allergic reaction occurs. Continued exposure can make symptoms worse. If an individual has a known risk of anaphylactic shock, a physician may prescribe an EpiPen for self-administration at home. Epinephrine injections work fast to halt and reverse swelling in the throat and mouth.

    Allergen Immunotherapy

    • Allergy shots have been shown to help ease oral allergy syndrome in some cases. Such treatment is often recommended for individuals who experience severe and ongoing rhinitis related to OAS. Only an allergist or immunologist can determine if this type of therapy is suitable for a specific patient. Allergen immunotherapy shots contain tiny amounts of the specific substances (pollens, not foods) that are the underlying cause of symptoms. The dosage is increased over time to build up resistance to these allergens. Treatment takes several years but the results can be long-lasting.

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