Oral Allergy Syndrome

[thebearandthemare]

My LO has been getting a red blotchy mouth whenever she eats raw fruits/ vegetables. The range has increased to the point that only blueberries appear ‘safe’ now Her skin prick tests were negative but she has been diagnosed with Oral Allergy Syndrome and we have stuck with dried, tinned, cooked versions which seem ok for now.

Recently though, she has reacted with itchy hives on her hand when she has touched strawberries that had been cut. I am chasing this up with the GP but I was just wondering if anyone had heard of this symptom before. Surely the ‘oral’ aspect means that she shouldn’t really be getting hives elsewhere? I am so so sad for her

I have it. I was officially diagnosed last year. Mine is mostly orchard fruits and is linked with my hayfever. I can’t even cut apples up as I react. I keep a supply of antihistamine on me just in case. My reaction is mostly an irritating inconvenience more than anything - I miss apples and cherries the most but there is loads I can eat - citrus fruit and bananas etc Most people roll their eyes and don’t believe me when I say I’m allergic to fruit.
I would definitely take her back to GP if you’re worried - when I was tested they also included other tests like nut allergies.

I’ve been diagnosed with this and I get itchy hives on my hands sometimes when cutting raw fruit. Although usually it means my lips swell up and the skin around my mouth is red and itchy, and my throat is itchy too. I don’t react every time and the consultant said not to avoid anything as it could make me more sensitive to it.

Thank you both, it’s interesting to hear that you also get symptoms if you chop fruit.

@Jerble we’ve been avoiding the fruits as that’s what was suggested at her allergy clinic appointment. It’s interesting that your consultant said otherwise, I’m hoping I can get some more information with a return visit.

Sadly, she seems to react to so so so many raw fruits and vegetables. I wouldn’t be so concerned if it was a specific few. I’d never heard of before her symptoms began!

I was tested and mine is only mild and I have not had any anaphylactic episodes, and not severely allergic to anything. That was the reasoning behind not avoiding the foods. I carry antihistamines with me and advised to take if I get a reaction. Mine is much better now. Can now eat all the foods and only have a reaction maybe 1 in 20 times compared to nearly every time for some foods, and maybe 1 in 5 times for others. Since I had the testing done and know that I won’t have a life-threatening reaction, I take the risk and have found it has improved. Hope that gives you hope.

Oh bless her - it’s not nice seeing your dc struggling.
Sounds crazy but have you looked at the origin of the fruit or veg - like I said mine is linked to my hayfever - birch pollen in particular. Sometimes fruit and veg from other countries give me a milder reaction as they’re pollinated differently. Also no pesticides helps too so organic stuff also helps.
I’m sure you do already but make sure there’s no contamination across chopping boards or knives.

@scrappydappydoo I think because she is reacting to so many things it is pretty much all types of pollen. That’s an interesting thought about different origins of fruit and trying organic things. I’ll look into it.

@Jerble it does give me some hope, thank you! How were you tested for reactions?

Here’s a link to different types of fruit split by pollen type:
acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/oral-allergy-syndrome

Mine was a skin patch test.

My son was diagnosed with this - his is linked to his pollen allergy and the consultant said OAS is also known as Pollen Fruit Syndrome. He had an anaphylactic reaction to a raw vegetable, despite being outwardly at least absolutely fine with the same vegetable as a young child. He did start to experience hay fever and then also hives around his mouth when eating this vegetable even when cooked as a primary school aged child and now as a 12 year old has to carry antihistamines and an epipen. We went privately in the end to get help as the NHS wasn't remotely interested in doing any sort of testing and the consultant we initially saw was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

@ipsofatto999

My son was diagnosed with this - his is linked to his pollen allergy and the consultant said OAS is also known as Pollen Fruit Syndrome. He had an anaphylactic reaction to a raw vegetable, despite being outwardly at least absolutely fine with the same vegetable as a young child. He did start to experience hay fever and then also hives around his mouth when eating this vegetable even when cooked as a primary school aged child and now as a 12 year old has to carry antihistamines and an epipen. We went privately in the end to get help as the NHS wasn't remotely interested in doing any sort of testing and the consultant we initially saw was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Thank you for sharing your experience, sounds scary that it can become so severe and even caused by the food in cooked form. Is he affected by just one vegetable or many different types? We have had initial skin prick tests for a wide range of fruits- all had a red flare but negative for actual hives. I feel lost at the moment as it seems to be happening with so many different fruits/veg.

I have it, diagnosed around 10 years ago when I did several seasons of sublingual immunotherapy for a severe grass and birch pollen allergy (so severe I had to be dosed with single drops rather than tablets!).

I react to tomatoes, apples, occasionally weird stuff like marmite/Parmesan/blue cheese — all the stuff I love! — and get the usual hives and swelling and itching either from eating it or touching it. I’ve found that (sadly) home-grown/wild fruits etc cause far more problems than shop-bought. Eating a couple of scrumped apples ended in emergency treatment! That’ll learn me :)

I’ve also discovered recently that elderflower presse REALLY hates me. I only bought it because I was trying to cut down on wine but at least a glass of Sauv doesn’t make my face blow up!

If it’s any consolation, it’s easily manageable with antihistamines (steroids in summer but that’s more the pollen) and washing hands/mouth if I start reacting. Eurax cream from Boots is brilliant for hives, combined with old-fashioned “drowsy” Piriton. Trial and error; it’s a bit miserable but, like I say, manageable!

My son has it but it's not very severe. Just itching mainly (sorry if that sounds dismissive - I have lots of allergies and the itching only ones are in the mild box).

To be on the safe side, he doesn't eat any raw fruit. He is fine with smoothies, cooked fruit and juices so he does get a fruit fix. It's never really been an issue as he's confident in telling people he's allergic to fruit.

Back again- thanks so so much for all of the useful info. I posted another thread recently about strange skin symptoms. My LO has been so blotchy lately at just totally random times (i.e. not only when eating) and often has the odd tiny little hive or spot. She even has blotches where something has sat on her skin for a moment such as butter from toast. I know that oral allergy syndrome is linked to pollen, could it be that she’s hyper-sensitive in general at the moment due to high pollen rates?! She doesn’t actually seem to have hay fever but is really blotchy throughout the day (looks mostly fine at night when I check her). I wonder if she’s reacting to lots because her body is already triggered by seasonal pollen. So strange and another GP appointment looming with a ton of questions and worries

I get symptoms in the summer when my hay fever is bad but for the rest of the year it settles. It has got better with age ; as has my previously very severe hay fever.