Springtime is pollen time, but for many allergy sufferers, pollen is also the time to cough and sneeze. Anyone who suffers from hay fever during the pollen season often develops a “cross-allergy” or “pollen-associated food allergy”.. This type of cross allergy is the most common. It usually arises from an existing pollen allergy. With an allergy, the body overreacts to a specific bodily substance, the allergen. Upon initial contact, the immune system forms antibodies that are intended to fight the foreign substances. However, some allergens closely resemble the chemical structure of food allergens, so cross-allergy often occurs. In this case, the affected person not only reacts allergically to the allergen that is already present, but also to the new allergen that is similar to the original allergen.
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Types of cross allergies
Which foods cause symptoms depends on the type of allergy. Cross allergies usually occur in fixed constellations. Those who are allergic to tree pollen often tend to develop an allergy to fruit, vegetables, nuts and herbs as well. The situation is similar with birch pollen. If you are allergic to it, stone or pome fruit can also become a problem. Spices such as cumin, pepper, etc. are often allergy triggers for people with an allergy to mugwort pollen, which can trigger strong reactions even in small amounts. However, cross allergies do not only exist between different types of pollen and foods. House dust or an allergic reaction to it can also make those affected sensitive to shells and crustaceans.
Cross allergies at a glance
- tree pollen
- Apple
- hazelnut
- carrot
- potato
- Kirsch
- Kiwi
- Nectarines
- peach
- apricot
- plum
- Saddlery
- Soy
- Coward
- mugwort pollen
- spices
- carrot
- Mango
- Saddlery
- sunflower seed
- Naturlatex
- Pineapple
- Avocado
- Banana
- potato
- Kiwi
- Tomatoes
- Esskastanie
- peach
- Mango
- Papaya
- Acerola Cherry
- Saddlery
- mites
- mollusks and shellfish
- Ambrosia
- Banana
- cucumber
- Zuchini
- Melon
- birds/bird feathers
- No
- poultry
- Offal
- grain and grass pollen
- flour
- Tomatoes
- legumes
- bran
Symptoms of a cross allergy
You can often recognize the symptoms of a cross allergy quite easily. They usually appear immediately after eating and are limited to the inside and outside of the mouth. Itching or redness occurs. In more severe cases, swelling and blistering may occur. Only rarely does the allergic reaction affect areas outside the mouth. In these cases, the entire body reacts with circulatory problems and shortness of breath. It is not possible to say exactly which reaction is caused and how strong it is, since every person reacts differently.
Diagnose a cross allergy
Although symptoms such as redness and swelling are often a fairly clear indicator, a diagnosis should only ever be made by a doctor. The doctor carries out various tests and interviews with the person concerned. The doctor asks about possible previous illnesses both personally and in the immediate family circle. Probably the most important role is played by the question of existing allergies. If the patient already suffers from a pollen allergy , the conclusion that it is a cross-allergy is not far away. After the questioning, there is often a more practical part. If present, redness and affected skin areas are examined. There are a variety of methods for diagnosing an allergy. The prick testis probably one of the most common. To perform this test, the patient’s top layer of skin is lightly incised. A wide variety of solutions containing allergens are then applied to the weakened skin layer. The result is visible after 30 to 60 minutes. If the skin is reddened, itchy or shows any other reaction in the relevant areas, the test for the specific allergen is positive. With this method, the tolerance to many allergens can be tested at the same time. If the skin prick test is positive, it is often followed by an oral provocation testaccomplished. In this test, the person affected eats the food that may trigger an allergic reaction. Under strict medical supervision, it is checked whether and to what extent the patient’s body reacts to the stimulus. If a reaction takes place, the initial theory can be considered confirmed. If there is no irritation, further tests must be carried out. More extensive blood tests are then often arranged, which can provide further information about the susceptibility of the patient.
Treatment of cross allergies
How you can treat a cross-allergy and alleviate the symptoms depends heavily on the severity of the allergy. If it is relatively weak, simply doing without the corresponding foods is usually sufficient. The simple freezing or heating of food can also ensure that it is more digestible again. For more severe symptoms, antihistamines can help. They reduce the release of the messenger substance histamine, which is responsible for the allergic reaction in the body. However, they are not recommended as a long-term solution, as they only suppress the trigger but do not eliminate it or render it harmless. To achieve this, a hyposensitizationbe performed. The procedure is quite simple and easy. Specific allergens are fed to the patient over a longer period of time. If the therapy is successful, it can lead to relief or even complete immunity to the triggering stimulus.
