Question 1

What is Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)?

Accepted Answer

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also known as pollen-food syndrome, is an allergic reaction to certain raw fruits, vegetables, or tree nuts that occurs in people with pollen allergies. It is caused by cross-reactive proteins in foods that are structurally similar to pollen proteins, triggering the immune system to mistake food proteins as threats. The Lemon (f208) IgG test is the most important test for identifying lemon sensitivity in OAS, as elevated IgG antibodies indicate immune reactivity to this common trigger food.

Question 2

What causes Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Oral Allergy Syndrome is caused by cross-reactive proteins found in both pollens and certain raw foods. When you have a pollen allergy, your immune system produces antibodies to specific pollen proteins. Because some fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts contain proteins with similar molecular structures to these pollens, your immune system mistakes them for pollen and triggers an allergic response. Common cross-reactions include birch pollen with apples, cherries, and carrots, or ragweed pollen with melons and bananas.

Question 3

What is the best test for Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Accepted Answer

The Lemon (f208) IgG test is the most important test for identifying lemon sensitivity in Oral Allergy Syndrome because it measures specific IgG antibodies to lemon proteins that cross-react with pollen allergens. This test helps pinpoint whether lemons are triggering your symptoms, which is essential for managing OAS effectively. While there is no single blood test that definitively diagnoses OAS itself, testing for specific food IgG antibodies like lemon helps identify which foods contain the cross-reactive proteins causing your reactions. Additional IgG testing for other commonly reactive foods such as apples, celery, or tree nuts may also be recommended to create a comprehensive picture of your food sensitivities.

Question 4

When should I get tested for Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Accepted Answer

You should get tested if you experience tingling, itching, or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat within minutes of eating raw fruits, vegetables, or tree nuts, especially if you already have seasonal pollen allergies. Testing is also important if your symptoms worsen during specific pollen seasons or if you notice reactions to multiple related foods. Getting tested early helps you identify trigger foods and avoid potentially severe reactions, allowing you to manage your diet effectively while still maintaining proper nutrition.

Question 5

What are the symptoms of Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Oral Allergy Syndrome typically causes itching or tingling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat immediately after eating trigger foods. You might also experience swelling of the lips, mouth, or throat, along with scratchy sensations in the ears. Symptoms usually appear within 5 to 15 minutes of consuming raw fruits, vegetables, or tree nuts and typically resolve on their own within minutes to an hour. Most reactions are mild and confined to the mouth area, though occasionally symptoms can progress to more serious reactions.

Question 6

Who is at risk for Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Accepted Answer

People with seasonal pollen allergies are at highest risk for developing Oral Allergy Syndrome, particularly those allergic to birch, ragweed, or grass pollens. Adults and older teens are more commonly affected than young children, as OAS typically develops after years of pollen allergy exposure. If you have hay fever or allergic rhinitis and notice your symptoms are worse during certain seasons, you are more likely to develop food sensitivities related to OAS. The condition affects approximately 50 to 75 percent of adults with pollen allergies.

Question 7

What happens if Oral Allergy Syndrome is left untreated?

Accepted Answer

If Oral Allergy Syndrome is left unidentified and untreated, you may continue experiencing uncomfortable mouth and throat symptoms every time you eat trigger foods, significantly impacting your quality of life. While most OAS reactions are mild, there is a small risk that repeated exposure or consumption of larger quantities of trigger foods could lead to more severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis in rare cases. Without proper identification of trigger foods through testing, you may unnecessarily restrict your diet or continue eating foods that cause reactions, leading to nutritional deficiencies or persistent discomfort.

Question 8

Can Oral Allergy Syndrome be diagnosed with a blood test?

Accepted Answer

Oral Allergy Syndrome is primarily diagnosed through clinical history and symptom patterns, but blood tests can help identify the specific food triggers causing your reactions. IgG antibody testing for specific foods like lemon, apple, or other commonly reactive foods measures immune system reactivity and helps confirm which foods contain the cross-reactive proteins triggering your symptoms. These blood tests are valuable tools for understanding your cross-reactivity patterns between environmental pollens and food proteins, allowing you and your healthcare provider to develop an effective management plan tailored to your specific sensitivities.

Question 9

How is Oral Allergy Syndrome treated?

Accepted Answer

Oral Allergy Syndrome is primarily treated by avoiding raw forms of trigger foods identified through testing or symptom tracking. Cooking, baking, or microwaving trigger foods often breaks down the cross-reactive proteins, making them safe to eat for most people with OAS. Peeling fruits may also help reduce reactions since some allergens are concentrated in the skin. Managing your underlying pollen allergies with antihistamines or allergy immunotherapy can sometimes reduce OAS symptoms as well, and your allergist may recommend carrying an epinephrine auto-injector if you have risk factors for severe reactions.

Question 10

How can I prevent Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Accepted Answer

While you cannot prevent Oral Allergy Syndrome if you have pollen allergies, you can prevent reactions by identifying and avoiding your specific trigger foods in their raw form. Effectively managing your seasonal allergies with medications or immunotherapy may reduce the severity of OAS symptoms. Keeping a food diary to track which foods cause reactions during different pollen seasons helps you identify patterns and avoid triggers. When trying new fruits, vegetables, or nuts, start with small amounts and cooked versions first to minimize reaction risk.

Question 11

What natural remedies help with Oral Allergy Syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Cooking or heating trigger foods is the most effective natural approach, as heat denatures the proteins responsible for cross-reactivity, making foods safe to eat. Peeling fruits and vegetables can reduce exposure to allergens concentrated in the skin. Rinsing your mouth with water immediately after eating trigger foods may help wash away residual proteins and reduce symptoms. Some people find that eating cooked versions of trigger foods while avoiding raw forms allows them to maintain nutritional variety without reactions, and managing seasonal allergies naturally through local honey, quercetin supplements, or nasal saline rinses may indirectly reduce OAS severity.

Question 12

How’s this work?

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

How do I know which test to get?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

When will my lab results be available?

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

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Accepted Answer

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Question 17

Can I cancel my order?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

How can I find a lab location near me?

Accepted Answer

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Oral Allergy Syndrome Blood Test

What is Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)?

What causes Oral Allergy Syndrome?

What is the best test for Oral Allergy Syndrome?

When should I get tested for Oral Allergy Syndrome?

References

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