#42 - What are cross-reactive allergens?

Do certain foods make your mouth itchy? We may have the reason why!

In this episode, Dr. G and Kortney are joined by Dr. Wright, a board-certified allergist and Medical Director at Thermo Fisher Scientific, as they demystify cross-reactivity in food allergies.

What we cover in this episode:

- What is cross-reactivity? Cross-reactivity with pollen versus cross-reactivity between IgE mediated allergens.

- What is oral allergy syndrome (OAS), and why do allergists prefer pollen food allergy syndrome?

- The difference between OAS and true food allergies causing anaphylaxis.

- How do you know it is an allergy due to pollen cross-reactivity (OAS)?

- What are the symptoms of OAS?

- How is oral allergy syndrome diagnosed?

- Can you have anaphylaxis to foods that OAS causes?

- Are there some fruits and vegetable varieties that are better for people to eat who have OAS?

- When do people start to develop OAS?

- Who would typically develop OAS?

- The cross-reactive pollens and their cross-reactive foods.

- The types of tests available for testing cross-reactive allergens: skin prick, blood test and component testing.

- How to determine if a food is an allergen due to pollen cross-reactivity or IgE mediated.

- Why would you consider getting component testing?

- How component testing can help determine if you can tolerate baked eggs and baked milk.

- How to determine if you are a candidate for an oral challenge.

This episode is sponsored by Allergy Insider.

Additional Resources:

Allergy Insider

- Follow @allergyinsider on Instagram for more information on allergies: https://www.instagram.com/allergyinsider/

- Follow Allergy Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllergyInsiderUS/

- Allergy Insider’s #ThatKid Campaign: https://www.thermofisher.com/diagnostic-education/patient/us/en/that-kid.html

- Follow Dr. Kia Wright on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.wright_allergist/

More information about:

- Understanding allergy cross-reactivity: https://www.thermofisher.com/diagnostic-education/patient/us/en/understanding-allergies/cross-reactivity.html

- OAS (oral allergy syndrome): https://www.thermofisher.com/diagnostic-education/patient/us/en/allergy-symptoms/head-eyes-ears-nose-throat-heent-allergy-symptoms/oral-allergy-syndrome-oas.html

- Component testing: In the US, component testing available: Milk, egg, peanuts, some tree nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashew)

- More information about allergy testing: https://www.thermofisher.com/diagnostic-education/patient/us/en/testing-for-allergy-triggers.html

Relevant The Itch Episodes:

- Ep. 34: What are allergies of the eyes and nose (environmental allergies): https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-34

- Ep. 35: How to treat environmental allergies (allergies of the eyes and nose): https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-35

- Ep. 5: The types of food allergy testing & why they can be so hard to interpret: https://www.itchpodcast.com/post/episode-5