The Symptoms That Can Indicate An Apple Allergy

Apple is known to be the main player in the allergic reaction called Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS). Ninety percent of apple allergies that are found in northern Europe and North America are more often than not related to "birch pollen." Since apple allergies are mainly centred on pollen, most apple allergy reactions occur after eating a fresh apple (particularly with the skin) and other parts of the Rosaceae fruits such as the hazelnut and peach. Only raw fruit, and not apples that have been pasteurized and cooked, will affect persons who are liable to have an apple allergy. The allergy producing proteins cannot survive the cooking or the pasteurizing process.

Watery eyes often results from Oral Allergy Syndrome that is usually brought on by an apple allergy. According to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Health System, indicators like sneezing and runny nose can also occur during an apple allergic reaction. This type of reaction can be brought on by the skin of the fruit making contact with the face or the skin on the hands. This contact can be made simply from peeling the fruit.

Itching may also be a sign that an apple was eaten. Swelling of the gums, tongue and lips and also tingling may accompany the itching. Dangerous swelling may appear around the throat as well, and the danger of asphyxiation may occur. Anaphylaxis is a severe condition that can cause difficulty in breathing, nausea as well as low blood pressure. Therefore, at the first indication that anaphylaxis is present, medical attention should be sought.

Apple allergies can show up around the mouth in the form of hives. These hives may come with seasonal allergic reactions and also when fresh fruits are eaten from the Rosaceae family. Symptoms present in seasonal pollen allergies and apple allergies imply that maybe there is a direct connection between proteins found in birch pollen and those found in apples.

When young children seem to dislike apples and any fruits from the Rosaceae family, their parents may see them as being very fussy eaters. In truth though, the child may just be reacting to the after effect of eating the fruit. Noticeable symptoms of hives or swelling may not accompany the itchiness the child experiences, hence he or she may find it difficult to express what is being felt. The child may simply turn away from eating the fruit instead.

For some persons, abdominal pain and diarrhoea may occur. The allergy sometimes can have such an acute effect on the gastrointestinal structure that bloody faeces may result.