How To Stop Oral Allergy Syndrome

Why Do Bananas Make Me Wheeze

A banana allergy is often connected to a latex allergy. This is because some of the proteins in the rubber trees that produce latex are known to cause allergies, and they are similar to the proteins found in some nuts and fruits, including bananas. This syndrome is known as latex-food syndrome or latex-fruit allergy.

Diagnosis Of Oral Allergy Syndrome

Most of the time, a diagnosis of oral allergy syndrome is made by reviewing the patient’s medical history and allergic reactions. For instance, kids with oral allergy syndrome usually are diagnosed with seasonal allergies first and then, later develop oral allergy syndromeâsometimes years after eating the offending food or foods without any issues.

Sometimes, an allergist will perform a skin prick test as well as blood tests to help confirm the diagnosis, but it’s important to note that oral allergy syndrome must be handled on a case-by-case basis. No two kids will respond in the same way or react to the same foods, says Dr. Stukus.

“Typically, patients will develop allergic rhinitis symptoms to pollen before the onset of oral allergy symptoms,” says Dr. Wada. “Medications used to treat allergy symptoms are not very helpful for preventing the symptoms of oral allergy syndrome, but there are some patients who will see improvement with the use of immunotherapy.”

Treatment Of Oral Allergy Syndrome

Dr. Stukus indicates that although oral allergy syndrome is relatively common, parents can minimize their child’s symptoms by peeling and cooking fruits and vegetables that lend themselves to that type of preparation.

“There are a lot of different fruits and vegetables that fall under each pollen,” he explains. “We usually don’t tell people to avoid food, especially if they can find other ways to eat the foods. Sometimes if you process food in some wayâsuch as cooking it, heating it, or peeling itâparents will find that their child can eat it. Proteins are very labile and can be destroyed easily. Even saliva is very good at breaking down the proteins in the food.”

What’s more, OAS tends to be worse during the pollen season. So, if your child is allergic to birch, which typically creates symptoms in spring, they may experience more challenges eating certain foods during spring but experience little to no symptoms in the winter.

Parents also worry that their child’s OAS may progress into something more serious. But the majority of the time, there is nothing to worry about.

Recommended Reading: How To Sleep Better With Allergies

Oral Allergy Syndrome Diagnosis

As with any allergy diagnosis, your doctor will first ask you about the history of your symptoms, Dr. Elliott says. Then a skin prick test or a blood test can help confirm the diagnosis and determine the specific pollen youre reacting to. Skin prick tests can also test for food allergies, but in the case of oral allergy syndrome, typically pollen will be positive and food will be negative, Dr. McNairn says.

Its possible you may not even realize you have a pollen allergy, Dr. Elliott adds. Some people could have a very mild pollen allergy, and its main manifestation is pollen-food allergy syndrome. They might come to me saying they cant eat fresh fruit because of their itchy mouth. Ill say, Do you get itchy eyes and a runny nose in the spring? And theyll realize they do, every spring!

Home Remedies For Burning Mouth Syndrome

1. Capsaicin Rinse

According to the American Family Physicians article published on burning mouth syndrome, a capsaicin rinse can help to improve symptoms. Yes, hot peppers may help relieve pain in those suffering from burning mouth syndrome! Several double-blind research studies indicate its safety and efficacy when a solution is applied orally. ” rel=”nofollow”> 9, 10,)

In fact, one of the studies found that symptoms improved in 80 percent of patients who were given capsaicin. The ideal solution, according to various studies, is to start with a 1:2 ratio of hot peppers to water, building to a 1:1 ratio, or the highest concentration that is tolerable to the patient. It is believed that the capsaicin provides a numbing effect, relieving the pain and discomfort for several hours.

To make a capsaicin burning mouth syndrome home treatment, mix two teaspoons water with one teaspoon cayenne pepper extract. Swish around your mouth for 2040 seconds, or whatever is tolerable, and then spit. Depending on what is tolerable, increase the strength bit by bit until the numbing action takes effect. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly if any of the solution gets on your fingers.

2. Vitamin B12

3. Iron-Rich Foods

In addition to a vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiencies are also considered a burning mouth syndrome cause. While iron supplements are available, I recommend boosting iron levels by increasing your consumption of healthy iron-rich foods. My top choices are:

• Spirulina
• Raisins

Also Check: Can You Take Allergy Medicine With Antibiotics

When To Call A Doctor

If you suspect your child has oral allergy syndrome, or if you are concerned that they have a food allergy, contact your healthcare provider. They can help you identify what is going and refer you to a specialist. If you feel that your child is in immediate danger, do not hesitate to call 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room.

How Is Oral Allergy Syndrome Treated

While most oral allergy symptoms will go away when you stop eating the food, its a good idea to see an allergist for an individual consultation any time you experience allergy symptoms related to food. Food-related symptoms can sometimes alert you to a more dangerous allergy, such as latex.

The allergist will determine whether your symptoms are a mild cross reaction or whether they could lead to a life-threatening allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis from oral allergy syndrome is extremely rare, but if youre at risk, you may require a prescription for epinephrine auto-injectors, the first-line treatment.

A board-certified allergist can give you an accurate diagnosis, advise you which foods to avoid and recommend treatments to relieve symptoms.

Read Also: Do Twix Have Peanuts

Realize That Some Hay Fever Sufferers Are Not Affected

OAS is “pretty common” in people with seasonal allergies, Shreffler told Live Science. “We really don’t know why it affects some people with pollen allergies and not others,” he added.

For some people, symptoms might occur only during their pollen allergy season, and they might be able to eat the food at other times of the year without any reactions. But for others, the offending food can trigger symptoms year-round, whether it’s pollen season or not.

Be Aware Of Common Symptoms

Oral symptoms, such as itching and tingling in the mouth and throat, and slight swelling in the lips, can occur within seconds or minutes of putting the food in the mouth. “It’s quite an immediate reaction,” Shreffler said. Some people may get so much swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips that swallowing might be uncomfortable, he said.

Also Check: Indoor Outdoor Allergy Relief

Oral Allergy Syndrome Symptoms

People with oral allergy syndrome are likely to experience an itchy mouth or scratchy throat, itchy or slightly swollen lips, and in some cases, itchy ears. The symptoms typically start shortly after eating a problematic raw fruit or vegetable, but theyre also usually mild and go away within a few hours at most. Oral allergy syndrome is usually harmless, says Hannelore A. Brucker, MD, a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Enzymes in the digestive process break down the pollen-mimicking proteins in raw produce, so the symptoms usually remain local to the mouth. But in rare cases, oral allergy syndrome can become more severe, Dr. Brucker says. In fact, about 5% of people with oral allergy syndrome symptoms go on to have body-wide signs like nausea or vomiting, and some can even worsen to the potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis, which can include swelling, hives, and even shock.

RELATED: 12 Signs You Are Having an Allergic Reaction

Severe reactions are rare and would require a great deal of exposure, Dr. Elliott says. All of a sudden the body is totally overwhelmed by, say, a lot of apples and youre ignoring the symptoms, she explains. You’re also more likely to have a severe reaction if you’re highly sensitive to the pollen, Dr. McNairn adds. The more sensitive you are, the more likely it is that you’ll react to a growing number of foods over time too.

What Is Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is broken into two diagnoses, primary BMS and secondary BMS. When medical tests do not determine that there is an underlying medical problem or prescription medication causing the symptoms, the physician will likely diagnose primary BMS. If, on the other hand, the symptoms are due to an underlying medical condition or prescribed medication, he or she will diagnose secondary BMS.

Typically, your physician and dentist may order allergy tests, conduct oral swab tests, biopsy tissue, MRIs, CT scans or blood tests to assist in the diagnosis. Ear, nose and throat specialists, as well as dermatologists and gastroenterologists, may be consulted as well. In fact, there simply isnt a single definitive test to determine if you have burning mouth syndrome it is truly based on the pain and discomfort you experience.

If your medical team determines that you have secondary BMS, treating the underlying medical causes of your symptoms can provide relief.

Burning mouth syndrome is considered a complex pain disorder that is both difficult to diagnose and difficult to successfully treat. It often appears spontaneously, with no known triggering factor. Burning mouth syndrome causes localized pain and discomfort, but also can cause difficulty eating, depression, anxiety, irritability and trouble sleeping.

Also Check: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

Treatment And Lifestyle Tips

There are no standard treatments for oral allergy syndrome other than avoiding specific foods that are associated with allergy symptoms. Careful management of diet can ensure that people with the syndrome can lead otherwise normal lives. People with oral allergy syndrome should explain the condition to others to help them understand what foods are off-limits.

In the event of an allergic reaction, initial treatment generally involves rinsing the mouth with water and then resting. Hot drinks can also destroy some proteins, and so inactivate them.

Antihistamines typically take 1-2 hours to work, while the effects of oral allergy syndrome typically start to wear off after about 30 minutes. However, an antihistamine can prevent effects from lingering and should be taken as soon as the reaction occurs.

In some cases, it may be possible to make the immune system less sensitive to the allergen through immunotherapy or allergy shots. This is especially useful when a single allergen is involved. Under-the-skin delivery of immune therapy is currently

How Common Is Oral Allergy Syndrome

As many as 1 out of every 3 people with seasonal allergies may experience oral allergy syndrome the exact number is unclear because the condition is often undiagnosed.

Oral allergy syndrome does not typically appear in young children. Symptoms may first arise in older children, teens and young adults who have been eating fruits or vegetables in question for years without any problem.

Also Check: Does A Gluten Allergy Cause A Rash

If Raw Fruits Or Veggies Give You A Tingly Mouth It’s A Real Syndrome

• EmbedEmbed

If you have ever noticed an itchy or tingly sensation in your mouth after biting into a raw apple, carrot, banana or any of the fruits and veggies listed here, read on.

People who are allergic to pollen are accustomed to runny eyes and sniffles this time of year. But some seasonal allergy sufferers have it worse: They can develop allergic reactions to common fruits and vegetables.

The allergic reactions which are usually mild can come on suddenly. And people can react to foods they had been eating with no problem for most of their lives.

The condition is called oral allergy syndrome. “I do think that this is one of the most underreported and underrecognized conditions, ” says Dr. Carah Santos, an allergist at National Jewish Health in Denver.

People who have OAS are allergic to plant pollens. Many fruits and vegetables contain proteins that are similar to these pollens. So the immune system can mistake the fruit and vegetable proteins for the plant pollens that caused the allergy.

“We call it cross-reactivity,” explains Santos. “Your immune system sees something as looking very similar to something it already reacts to.”

Bananas were the trigger for Jessica Slattery, who lives in the suburbs of Denver. She began to notice a reaction every time she ate one.

“The first thing I’d feel is a little itch on my tongue,” Slattery says. “I’d feel it down my throat … it’s just a little tingle.”

Sometimes, her lips would swell, too.

Home Remedies For Burning Mouth Syndrome Symptoms

By Kathleen McCoy, BS

• Precautions

Perplexing and painful, burning mouth syndrome is a complex pain disorder causing a burning or scalding sensation in the mouth. While all areas may be affected, you may experience isolated burning sensations on one or more areas including the tongue, lips, gums, palate or throat. The pain and discomfort may appear suddenly or develop over time.

Underlying medical conditions, including diabetes, allergies, dry mouth, yeast infections, acid reflux and certain thyroid problems are burning mouth syndrome causes. When medical tests cant find an underlying medical problem, the diagnosis may be primary BMS.

While researchers remain puzzled as to why and how symptoms can just arise spontaneously, the National Institute of Healths online library of medical research studies and reviews currently has over 1,000 documents listed on the site that reference burning mouth syndrome. And, most encouragingly, clinicaltrials.gov, the clearing house for clinical trials in the US, currently contains 41 BMS studies in various stages of completion.

For the tens of thousands suffering from burning mouth syndrome symptoms, take heed in the fact that physicians and researchers are taking your condition seriously. In fact, they are exploring a broad range of treatment options and looking for safe and effective treatments in prescription medications, natural therapies, home remedies and complementary medicine.

Read Also: Cetirizine For Itching

What Are The Symptoms Of Oral Allergy Syndrome

• Itchy or tingly mouth
• Swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat

Onset of symptoms may seem random. Some people are only bothered during pollen season, but the rest of the year they can eat pollen-related foods with no problem. OAS symptoms usually occur to only fresh fruits and vegetables, not to the cooked form of these vegetables.

So, if youre allergic to ragweed, a melon in February may not bother you at all, while one in September could set off symptoms with the first bite.

Some people with OAS will react to fresh foods but not cooked or canned varieties. If you have grass allergy, for instance, you may be able to eat tomato sauce on pizza but develop itchy mouth from fresh tomato in a salad. Others may find they can eat certain varieties of a fruit or fruits without their skins.

Oral Allergy Syndrome: What It Is + How To Manage It

Oral Allergy Syndrome: What It Is + How To Manage It Oral Allergy Syndrome: What It Is + How To Manage It

Do you ever get a tingling, itchy, or scratchy tongue or throat after eating certain raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, or seeds? You aren’t alone. In fact, there’s actually a term for this: oral allergy syndrome . OAS is caused by a cross-reactivity between foods and pollens, and people who experience OAS usually also have seasonal hay fever symptoms as well.

What happens is that the proteins in the foods look similar enough to the pollen proteins that your immune system causes an allergic reaction . Usually the symptoms are mild, localized, and dissipate pretty quicklybut they can cause enough discomfort to make you want to avoid that food.

The most common pollens that cause this cross-reactivity are from birch, ragweed, or grasses. Since the pollen production of these plants is seasonal, OAS symptoms can often increase or decline as the seasons change too. These are some of the most common foods that can cause OAS:

• Birch pollen: apple, almond, carrot, celery, cherry, hazelnut, kiwi, peach, pear, plum
• Grass pollen: celery, melons, oranges, peaches, tomato
• Ragweed pollen: banana, cucumber, melons, sunflower seeds, zucchini

If you experience OAS, there are two courses of action to think about. First, remove the trigger for your reactions by noticing and avoiding foods that cause discomfort. Keep a diet journal if you find that helpful for identifying problem foods.

Also Check: Zyrtex

How Is Oral Allergy Syndrome Prevented

People with oral allergy syndrome can minimize or even avoid symptoms altogether by:

• Avoid the food that is causing symptoms.
• Bake or microwave the food in question before eating it. This can break down the allergic protein so that you are able to tolerate it. For example, you may be able to eat cooked tomato sauce on pizza but develop an itchy mouth from a fresh tomato in a salad.
• Peel the skin off fruits that cause symptoms or try other varieties of fruits .

Types Of Food Allergies

Food allergies are divided into 3 types, depending on symptoms and when they occur.

• IgE-mediated food allergy the most common type, triggered by the immune system producing an antibody called immunoglobulin E . Symptoms occur a few seconds or minutes after eating. There’s a greater risk of anaphylaxis with this type of allergy.
• non-IgE-mediated food allergy these allergic reactions aren’t caused by immunoglobulin E, but by other cells in the immune system. This type of allergy is often difficult to diagnose as symptoms take much longer to develop .
• mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated food allergies some people may experience symptoms from both types.

Read more information about the symptoms of a food allergy.

You May Like: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec