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Cross allergy - table of cross reactions, symptoms and treatment.
As if allergies weren't bothersome enough on their own, there are also a whole host of cross-allergies. That is, allergy sufferers who respond to pollen may also not tolerate certain foods. In the same way, people allergic to house dust sometimes can't eat shellfish. Here's more about the symptoms and treatment of cross-allergies, and what you should be sure to look out for.
What is a cross-allergy?
There are a variety of allergens that challenge the immune system. Some of them are very similar in structure, although they come from a different source. Thus, the immune system jumps on these actually harmless allergens as well. The immunoglobulin E antibodies, abbreviated IgE antibodies, are thus also directed against them and cause an allergic reaction.
Here are a few examples: You react to birch pollen? Then you might not tolerate apples either. Grass pollen are the horror for you? Then you could also be allergic to flour or tomatoes. Whether plants, pollen, food, house dust or latex - a cross allergy exists in a wide variety of areas.
Cross reactions are particularly common with a pollen allergy to birch, alder and hazel. However, a cross allergy does not necessarily have to develop. However, if you have particularly severe reactions to a certain allergen, it does not hurt to be cautious about cross-allergens as a precaution.
Cross allergy and its symptoms
Most allergy sufferers know the typical symptoms with a runny nose and red eyes. But suddenly, cross-allergy can also add other symptoms, such as skin rashes or malaise after eating. So anyone who develops other symptoms in addition to the known complaints, should think about a cross allergy and get to the bottom of the causes.
Here is a list of allergy symptoms:
- allergic rhinitis with runny nose and sneezing attacks
- allergic asthma, shortness of breath
- watery, burning eyes
- reddened nose and eyes
- rash on the skin
- hives
- scratching in the throat
- swelling in the throat
- nausea after eating certain foods such as fruits, nuts and spices
- Gastrointestinal discomfort, abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Circulatory problems
A food allergy to certain foods such as fruits, nuts or spices should not be confused with a food intolerance such as lactose intolerance or histamine intolerance. In the latter, the body does not react to allergens, but symptoms occur due to inadequate metabolism of food components.
What are the types of cross-allergies?
| Allergic to | Possible cross-allergy |
|---|---|
| Ragweed | Banana |
| Cucumber | |
| Melon | |
| Birch pollen | Apple |
| Apricot | |
| Pear | |
| Strawberry | |
| Mugwort pollen | Peanut |
| Fig | |
| Hazelnut | |
| Carrot | |
| Potato | |
| Cherry | |
| Kiwi | |
| Almond | |
| Mung bean | |
| Nectarine | |
| Peach | |
| Plum | |
| Celery | |
| Soy | |
| Sunflower seeds | |
| Spinach | |
| Tomato | |
| Grass and cereal pollen | Pea |
| Peanut | |
| Potato | |
| Bran | |
| Flour | |
| Melon | |
| Orange | |
| Celery | |
| Soy | |
| Tomato | |
| House dust mites | Shellfish and mollusks (e.g., mussels, shrimp) |
| Rubber/natural latex | Acerola cherry |
| Pineapple | |
| Avocado | |
| Banana | |
| Chestnut | |
| Fig | |
| Carrot | |
| Potato | |
| Kiwi | |
| Mango | |
| Melon | |
| Papaya | |
| Bell pepper | |
| Peach | |
| Celery | |
| Tomato | |
| Zucchini | |
| Egg | |
| Poultry | |
| Offal |
What helps against cross-allergies?
Cross-allergies are usually treated like any other allergy. In cases of very severe symptoms, it always makes sense to address the cause and consider desensitization. If the symptoms only persist during the acute phase, alleviating the symptoms is usually sufficient:
- Avoid allergens: Avoidance is a good way to avoid a cross-allergy. If you already know for sure which allergens you react to, you should also give the cross-allergens a wide berth as a precaution. Especially if you have a known allergy to fruits, vegetables, nuts or spices, you should avoid these foods by all means.
- Boil fruit: Pollen allergy sufferers hit it pretty hard, because quite a long list of fruits are for them on the red list. But often the allergic reaction occurs only to raw fruit. In boiled form, for example, as applesauce or stewed plums, the fruit is better tolerated.
- Nasal spray: If the nose begins to itch and run and one sneeze chases the next, nasal sprays against hay fever are advised. Pollival® nasal spray acts anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory - and completely without preservatives.
- Eye drops: Against burning, itchy eyes Pollival® eye drops help. They relieve the discomfort within minutes and can also be used preventively.
- Allergy diary: You are sure that you suffer from an allergy, but do not know the trigger? Then you can keep a diary in which you record the symptoms and possible triggers. Over a longer period of time, this will help you narrow down the allergens. The table above helps you to identify possible cross-reactions.
- Allergy test: The doctor can perform an allergy test [https://www.polli-allergie.de/behandlung/allergietest/] to find out the different allergens. Proven triggers must be avoided in any case . Depending on the severity of symptoms, medical treatment may follow.
- Allergy immunotherapy: Who suffers from particularly severe allergy attacks, can undergo a hypo- of desensitization.