To tell you I have Oral Allergy Syndrome?

[FromDespairToHere]

I know nobody cares, but I'm so happy that what I have is an actual thing, and not just my body being weird!

I get a terrible itch in my ears/throat when I eat certain fruits. It started with pineapples about 20 years ago and then apples, tomatoes, pears and most recently watermelon. It's infuriating as I bloody love most things on that list but it's so uncomfortable and an antihistamine only takes the edge off, it doesn't make it go away.

Anyway I was explaining (again) to somebody today why I was removing the pineapple from a fruit salad and somebody else told me that not only does my thing have a name but that she has it too!

I'm really excited that I'm not as much of a freak as I thought I was!

I have had it for years. I have a severe birch/alder (any tree with catkins) allergy which was worst when we lived in a house with a big silver birch outside the back door. Raw apple, raw carrot, raw hazelnuts and cherries cause really bad symptoms especially during spring when my hay fever is at its worst. I also find that if I peel potatoes or carrots and any juice gets in say a nick or cut on my hand, I get a red itchy reaction there. As others have said, cooking breaks down the proteins which cause the symptoms so the cooked fruit or veg is fine. Those who say they have reactions to kiwi, be very careful as this is normally a direct allergy to kiwi not a simple cross reaction to pollen (and can be very dangerous). I was told this by my son’s allergy specialist (my son is allergic to kiwi and has to avoid it due to possible anaphylaxis).

This was on This Morning a couple of weeks ago. The Dr said it was related to tree/pollen allergy. Here's the link to the clip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0XOJHgcMx/?utmsource=iggsharesheet&igshid=14kwkg854oxvo

I have the link handy because my mum sent it me. I used to have the same problem, not so much anymore though 🤷🏻‍♀️

I started being allergic to pineapple a few years ago, burning in my mouth and then a swelling rash from my mouth down my jaw and neck . Also an asthmatic and as a child had bad hayfever, particularly to grass pollen. Not sure if it's related, but the last few Christmases I've reacted to our tree, especially to the fir tree with a bad rash. I wouldn't touch kiwis as they were already starting to taste burning.

I get blisters on my lips from kiwi fruit and pineapple makes my mouth itchy as well as my hands if i cut it. Both are banned from my house.

I am also get a swollen tongue from some (but not all) tomatoes but I eat them anyway.

It's annoying but OK.

I also have hayfever and get very itchy from some horrible ingredient in nail varnish. The nail varnish one is the saddest allergy I have!

Peaches, cherries and almonds for me (but only if the brown stuff is left on the almonds). It started with cherries & I was so upset when it moved to peaches, although it's OK if I skin them.

And hazelnuts & nectarines!

I have this with kiwi, my sister with cheese. People more knowledgeable than I, are we risking anaphylaxis if we eat these things? Had an anaphylactic reaction (cause unknown, not kiwi) once and certainly don't want another so avoid kiwi always.

I get this with kiwis and I have birch pollen sensitivity! I have found my people!

Oh, I get the itchy mouth thingwith some extra strong Cheddar, but no other cheese. Not as bad as pineapple, though. No 70s revival snacks for me .

I've been having allergy shots for my hayfever and oral allergy syndrome. Last year I had no hayfever, and this year I've started eating apples and pears again for the first time in 13 years, with no reaction.

The allergist said that there's evidence to show that the allergy shots often help with hayfever, and anecdotally that they can help with OAS. In my case they've made a massive difference.

I'm at the stage of having the shots every 3-4 weeks and am hoping that eventually I won't need them at all.

I have a birch pollen allergy and I was struggling to eat apples, pears, cherries, peaches, nectarines, and raw hazelnuts and almonds.

It's a bit ridiculous but I still feel absolutely delighted every time I manage to eat an apple with no side effects. It's still at the novelty stage.

longwayoff....anaphylactic shock is sudden and causes a choking reaction to the throat. Like being strangled on the inside. My DD has epi-pens for this. If you have had a reaction like that, you would have needed an ambulance instantly. Its not like a simple allergic reaction to something that, say for instance, a dose of antihistamines can cure.

My DS developed this when he was 16. Started complaining about my salad and I didn't quite understand what he was on about and just thought he was trying to get out of eating it.
Then he had a terrible incident while eating a pear and he couldn't breath. His body was hot and red, he took a large dose of anti histamines and thankfully it calmed down.
The GP sent him for allergy testing and it turns out he's allergic to loads of other fruit and vegetables. He has to carry around an epipen now. The doc called it a food pollen allergy.
He's not had anything happen since but he's had the warning tingling mouth when eating nuts.
The doctor said his reaction was extreme and most of the time an itchy mouth is as far as it goes.
I'm really surprised how common this seems to be.

No one has mentioned cabbage or broccoli so far but I get an itchy throat from eating those raw. I also react to some brands of vitamin c.

Yup, this is a thing. In the case of apples causing this, it's an allergy to birch pollen.

I sometimes get reactions to kiwi, melon, pineapple and ripe banana.

Reaction varies from uncomfortable to nothing at all; worse in pollen season. Bananas which are not over-ripe are usually fine.

I get dermatitis if I handle melon (skin only), kiwi or tomatoes although I can usually eat them in moderate amounts.

(I am also "properly" and very seriously allergic to peanuts and mustard).

Interested to see how common this is!

I think kiwi allergy can be linked to allergies to latex, so one to beware of if you have issues with kiwi!

Oh yes and am violently (anaphyllactically) allergic to unfiltered honey containing pollen. Does anyone else have this? I can eat commercial filtered honey, although I prefer not to.

Wow i thought i was the only one im so glad it has a name and there is an explanation for it i thought i was going mad and Drs have never been interested. My reactions are banana any type of melon and cucumber they started when i was about 7/8, i have avoided those food since then but if i do eat sime thing without realising the reaction is worse everytime. Now i cant even pick the cucumber off a sandwich and eat it as i will still react! Never had hayfever as a child and i grew up in a very green area but have developed it in recent years but i dont have a clue what sets me off and its not daily. I have very mild eczema but my skin is so sensitive i will have a bad flare up with certain brands.or if an ingredient is changed.

Thank you whatacrap. I know what it is, that's why I don't want to experience it again so I stay well away from my known allergens. However the tingly sensations other posters are describing, yet continuing to eat their allergens, alarms me and gives me concern for their health.

I found out about it thanks to MN a few years back. It was incredible to find out I wasn't going mad to say I could eat cooked apples and not raw ones.

I haven't had allergy testing, but I get hayfever in early spring, and have always assumed it was birch trees responsible, which fits with my reactions to raw apples, raw cherries, hazelnuts and peeling potatoes.

Stupomax - can I ask how you are getting the allergy shots? I tried to do this for my DD but got nowhere,

I have it too but only at certain times of the year. I told the doctor about it years ago but he said there was no such thing

I honestly hadn't heard of anyone else having this before today and there's loads of us! MN is a wonderful place sometimes.

Btw I'm not happy that you all have it, I'm happy that it isn't just me iyswim!

@viques I was in a hurry while cooking and the potatoes weren't as cooked as I thought they were!

Obviously I found out as soon as I tried to eat one, but the reaction was also instant.