Once again, it's fall pollen season, and much of the United States has high levels of weed pollen in the air. Ragweed is one of the major fall pollens that triggers allergies, especially in the mid-West and East Coast. Along with the typical hay fever symptoms, pollen season can worsen the oral allergy syndrome (OAS). People with ragweed allergy may experience OAS symptoms after eating bananas, melons, cucumbers and zucchini; symptoms may also occur with drinking chamomile tea or taking echineacea.
In OAS, certain people with hay fever may experience sensations of itching and burning of the tongue, mouth and throat after eating certain fresh fruits and vegetables. While the symptoms usually are mild and last only seconds to a few minutes, symptoms can be more severe in a small percentage of people with OAS, and even progress on to anaphylaxis. Fruits and vegetables that are cooked or processed, such as with applesauce, do not cause typically OAS symptoms.
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