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Oral allergy syndrome: symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Allergic reactions are responses, sometimes exaggerated, of our body to exposure to certain elements, called allergens, which are contained in a wide variety of objects and foods. Many allergic reactions are extremely common, such as pollen or dust mites, and the symptoms will depend on the intensity of the response. Many of the triggers for an allergic reaction are foods, which, because they come into contact with the mouth before any other part of the body, cause specific symptoms in this organ, thus producing an oral allergy syndrome. In this FastlyHealarticle we will explain everything about oral allergy syndrome: symptoms and treatment, so that you know how to identify the first signs of this alteration in a timely manner and can respond accurately.

What is oral allergy syndrome

The oral allergy syndrome is an allergic reaction or type of immune response that triggers a series of specific foods, such as peanuts or peanut, eggs, milk, some fruit or vegetables, wheat, soya, fish, shellfish like shrimp, crab, lobster, etc. In rare cases, there are those who react to additives, such as colorants and preservatives.

This type of allergy affects the mouth, tongue, and throat , causing worse problems, such as difficulty breathing. The people most likely to present oral allergy syndrome are those allergic to pollen or who have asthma, because the immune system mistakes the food eaten for the pollen that produces the allergy, especially in the cases of vegetables, fruits and cereals.

This syndrome is triggered when the person has a food intolerance to this class of foods and the immune system reacts against allergens and histamine , a chemical mediator, is released , causing allergy symptoms. However, some people present this reaction only when the food is raw, in case of being cooked they do not present it because cooking modifies the food.

Symptoms of oral allergy syndrome

Oral allergy syndrome presents characteristic symptoms of the condition, usually occurring immediately after eating food or may take more than an hour to occur. The main symptoms of oral allergy syndrome are:

  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue and throat
  • Itching in this area
  • Tingling sensation inside the mouth
  • Eye irritation
  • Sneezing
  • Rhinitis

Oral allergy syndrome can be diagnosed by a doctor through a medical history, the person’s history, and an in-office skin test. Although if you have any of these symptoms when eating food, it means you have oral allergy syndrome due to that food.

In advanced cases of people already allergic to pollen, a serious anaphylactic reaction can occur if it is not treated in time, but it is very rare.

Treatment for oral allergy syndrome

The treatment for oral allergy syndrome begins with prevention , you must first avoid eating raw foods and in those cases have already filed a previous allergic response. Although the best treatment for oral allergy syndrome is to avoid the cause, it is important to stop eating the foods that cause it , since prolonged consumption can worsen the symptoms.

Another way to reduce the symptoms of oral allergy syndrome is to cook food, since the high temperature avoids the risk of producing the condition and, also, avoid eating canned food, or in other cases peeling food, because many times what causes the allergy is found in the peel or skin of food.

If you do not avoid them or do not know that you are allergic, the best treatment for oral allergy syndrome is the consumption of antihistamines , drugs responsible for counteracting the allergy.

Another possible treatment is allergy shots , but they are intended for people allergic to pollen and hay fever. However, it has been shown that people with these vaccines are less likely to suffer from oral allergy syndrome.

In advanced processes or when the symptoms have become severe, as is the case with anaphylaxis, the treating physician will consider applying adrenaline by injection to reverse and stop the inflammation, although it is very rare to suffer from this reaction. Advanced processes can also be controlled with corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone or hydrocortisone.

Most people have mild symptoms and many let it stop on its own, but obviously this is not recommended, unless the doctor indicates it in a particular case.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Oral allergy syndrome: symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Teeth and mouth category .

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