"Oral allergy syndrome" refers to a group of symptoms that occur in pollen-sensitive individuals caused by a variety of foods, especially certain fruit, that are related to pollen, especially birch pollen. The following is a partial list, and symptoms that they may cause:

FRUIT:

-Apple family: apples, pears.

-Plum family: almonds, apricots, cherries, peaches,

nectarines, prunes and plums.

-Kiwis.

 

VEGETABLES:

-Parsley family: carrots, celery, fennel, parsley, and

parsnip

-potato

 

NUTS:

Hazelnut, walnut.

 

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS:

 

Usually:-Itching of palate, throat, chin and/or lips.

-Swelling of lips.

Occasionally:-Gingivitis

-Conjunctivitis

-Rhinitis

Rarely: -Gastro-intestinal symptoms

-Urticaria and/or angioedema

-Asthma

-Anaphylactic shock

 

OTHER POLLEN-FOOD ASSOCIATIONS:

 

GRASS: Melon, tomato, orange.

 

RAGWEED: Banana, melon.

 

These symptoms occur when the foods are eaten raw, rarely otherwise, and should be avoided, if symptoms persist.

 

(Dr. Michel Drouin, "Allergy" Sept. 1990)

See also: Dr A. H. Pong's exellent article: Oral allergy syndrome

and: Dr Barry Zimmerman's: The Fresh Fruit Syndrome

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