Adult-Onset Allergies and Oral-Allergy Syndrome

Filed in archive Food Allergies , Hay Fever , Living with Allergies on April 22, 2006

I am comforted by the fact that Allergies, especially food allergies, are more common in children than in adults. That means that there is a good chance that my son may outgrow his allergies to peanuts and milk.

On the other hand, I am alarmed by stories of adult-onset allergies: people who never showed allergies all their life, and then suddenly, at the age of 30, 40 or 50, develop a range of allergic symptoms. Apparently, this is a common condition, although doctors and allergists are still unable to explain why some people develop allergies later in life, and what triggers the delayed reaction.

Another related, but slightly different condition is the oral-allergy syndrome wherein a person who may have shown slight allergic reactions during childhood, later in adulthood suddenly show allergic reactions to some or all of the following food items:

• tree fruits, such as apples, nectarines, and plums


• nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts


• vegetables, such as carrots and celery

"It's all to do with the body mistaking proteins in these items for similar proteins in tree and grass pollen... then reacting with hay fever-like runny nose, congestion, and watery eyes.

In such cases, the first line of defense is to identify and simply stop eating the food that triggers the reaction to avoid provoking more severe symptoms. Check with your doctor regarding suitable medications.