It may sound strange, but eating fresh fruit can cause the mouth to itch if you have seasonal allergies. Shortly after eating fresh fruit, you can develop symptoms such as a tingling sensation in the mouth, throat or nasal passages. This is caused by a condition called Oral Allergy Syndrome. Oprah.com states that if you have been diagnosed with hay fever or pollen allergy, you may experience mild allergy symptoms after eating fresh fruits. Some of the proteins found in various fruits may be confused by the body as various types of pollen, causing histamine release.
Itchy mouth
If your only symptom is an itchy mouth, which is experiencing oral allergy syndrome. This condition usually only affects the mouth. Not considered a food allergy, but rather related to cross-reactivity to pollen allergy. If other symptoms apart from itching in the mouth, such as asthma, hives or digestive problems, you may have a food allergy. Make an appointment with your doctor to determine the cause and the most effective treatment for your condition.
Fresh Fruit
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network states that the fruit for cooking before eating can help prevent itchy mouth. If its body mistakes proteins fresh fruit for pollen, histamine released in the localized area of the mouth to protect the body of allergen, although harmless. Some people may experience other symptoms of hay fever, such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, eye irritation and throat irritation. Adults are most commonly affected by this disease compared with children, according to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The types of pollen and fruits
If you are allergic to birch pollen, the following fresh fruits can trigger oral allergy syndrome: pears, peaches, apples, apricots, cherries, plums, prunes, kiwis and nectarines. Eat bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe or melon can cause itching in the mouth, if you are allergic to ragweed.Grass pollen, can cause the mouth to itch when you eat oranges, tomatoes, melons and peaches.Consumption of pears, apples, cherries and peaches can cause oral allergy syndrome if you are allergic to pollen from alder, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Treatment
If cooking the fruit does not prevent the development of an itchy mouth, talk to your doctor about sublingual immunotherapy. This is a treatment used for oral allergy syndrome that uses a small amount of allergen is placed under the tongue to desensitize the body to the allergen, according to Oprah.com.
