Have you ever noticed a mild reaction soon after consuming certain types of foods?
If you have experienced these symptoms, you likely have oral allergy syndrome (OAS).
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What Is Oral Allergy Syndrome?
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The syndrome commonly shows up in symptoms such as itching of the lips, mouth, and tongue.
Allergens are substances that can cause allergic reactions.
Some people’s immune systems will recognize an allergen as a foreign body and consider it to be dangerous.
When this happens, the immune system mounts a defense usingantibodies, to help protect against the allergen.
This reaction is what causes allergy symptoms.
These symptoms can lead to a life-threatening condition known asanaphylaxis.
Signs and Symptoms
Usually, only the mouth, throat, and lips are affected in OAS.
The symptoms of children and adults are discussed below.
Childhood Signs
Children with OAS experience a reaction only in their lips, mouth, and throat.
It appears in children who are allergic to mugwort and ragweed pollens, birch, or grass.
These symptoms are usually mild and disappear when you stop eating the food.
To your immune system, the allergens in both substances appear quite similar.
Some people are allergic to foods that trigger them only during the pollen season.
After that, they can eat allergy-related foods without symptoms for the remainder of the year.
People with OAS to soy should avoid drinking soy beverages because of this heightened risk.
Diagnosis
Many people have OAS but dont often know they do.
Treatments
Most cases of OAS will not require medical treatment.
Epinephrine is the most effective treatment for allergic reactions.
you’re free to obtain a prescription for this from your healthcare provider.
There are also over-the-counterantihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), to help relieve mild symptoms.
Your local pharmacist can direct you to safe and effective treatments.
Using anon-steroidal nasal spraycan be effective in clearing nasal passages.
If your allergic rhinitis symptoms are bad enough, it may be recommended that you tryallergy shots.
However, allergy shots are not indicated for the sole use of OAS treatment.
Antihistamine medications are often effective in reducing symptoms.
It is best to take a non-sedating one if you should probably be alert.
Summary
OAS is a common condition that affects people with pollen allergies.
This cross-reaction causes OAS.
Symptoms will usually go away if you stop eating the triggering food.
you might also peel it or cook it to prevent symptoms.
Antihistamines are a popular and effective treatment for many mild allergy symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
OAS can make you miserable.
They can discover what you are allergic to and suggest ways to avoid it.
Muluk NB, Cingi C.Oral allergy syndrome.Am J Rhinol Allergy.
A MASK study.Clin Transl Allergy.
2014;134(5):1016-25.e43.
