Is fruit allergies causing irritation in tongue and throat?
Patient: Hello, I have just found out about pollen and fruit allergies. I can t eat many fruits or nuts anymore as it causes my lips to burn and feel like they are swelling, my tongue gets raw and my thoart feels like it is staring to swell. I can t even drink sprite or any citrus drinks due to this. Also, when I eat something I shouldn t I get like a yeast infection but not a real one. I itch terribly in my private areas. Am I really allergic to fruit etc Doctor: Hello.Thank you for asking at HCM.I went through your history. I would particularly like to ask which fruits cause you symptoms and which fruits you can take safely.From your history, I would think first of Food-Pollen Syndrome (Oral Allergy Syndrome). It is a benign allergy syndrome with rare consequences/progression.It usually causes symptoms only after consumption of raw fresh fruits. So I would suggest you following:1. Please make a list of fruits that causes symptoms. You can take rest of the fruits without trouble.2. You can try taking cooked/steamed/baked fruits. This will alter allergenic proteins and may not cause you symptoms. Same way, some allergens are in peels of the fruit, so removal of peel also may not cause symptoms.3. If you have any symptom like itching, swelling, burning in lips/throat/oral cavity, please take an antihistamine like cetirizine immediately.4. I would suggest you to consult an Allergist-Immunologist who will ask your symptoms in great detail and may advise you allergy testing to confirm the diagnosis.5. Important: If fruits cause you symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, severe throat swelling, suffocation, please do not take these fruits without confirmation of diagnosis.Hope this will be helpful to you.Wish you the best of the health.Regards.