When biting into the apple or apricot, the mouth suddenly begins to itch. After the chocolate cake, shortness of breath becomes noticeable. These signs point to a cross-allergy. But what exactly is it all about?
What is a cross allergy?
Cross-allergy always occurs when another allergy is already present. The symptoms of cross-allergy can resemble those of pollen allergy. Sneezing fits, watery eyes, itchy skin rashes, and shortness of breath. However, because the allergen enters the body when eaten and is not just absorbed through the air like pollen, cross-allergy can also become a danger. The swelling of the mouth or trachea can cause choking. In the worst case, cross-allergy can cause anaphylactic shock. This state of shock is life-threatening and requires emergency medical care.
Causes
The cause of cross-allergies is clear: the patient has one allergy and is now reacting to other substances. A cross-allergy has developed. The reason: due to the similarity in the structures of certain allergens, the patient suddenly reacts to foods that were previously well tolerated. A cross allergy shows up very often in pollen allergy sufferers. For example, almost half of birch pollen allergy sufferers also react to stone fruit, soy, celery and nuts. People allergic to grass pollen may develop a cross-allergy to peanuts, potatoes, cereals, soy and tomatoes. Allergy to dust mites can also easily result in cross-allergy. Suddenly, those affected can no longer tolerate seafood. Sometimes it is sufficient in the case of a cross-allergy if the threatening foods are only removed from the menu during the pollen season. Sometimes, however, only a consistent and decades-long renunciation helps.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Cross-allergy can manifest itself in different symptoms. They depend, on the one hand, on the main allergen, and on the other hand, on the way in which the allergy-causing substance comes into contact with the patient. The main routes are contact with the skin, contact with the mucous membrane of the mouth, nose and throat, with the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract. In this context, the symptoms of cross-allergy are not always the same as those of the main allergy. While birch pollen allergy belongs to the allergies that irritate the mucous stimuli and cause itching of the eyes and runny nose, cross-allergy to apples or nuts can be recognized by tingling and swelling in the mouth and throat area. Symptoms in the mucous membranes can affect the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract in general. Allergic conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva) of the eyes manifests with itching, redness and swelling. The mucous membranes of the nose react with secretion and sneezing attacks occur. An allergic cough is also possible. Complication that can occur in almost all cross-allergies is anaphylactic shock with shortness of breath and loss of consciousness. Allergens that enter the mouth with food trigger tingling and swelling there and can become apparent in the further course of digestion with gastrointestinal complaints. Allergens that react to the skin when touched are contact allergens. Here the skin forms itchy, sometimes weeping wheals.
Diagnosis and course
Suspicion of cross-allergy must be confirmed by a physician. If allergic symptoms have occurred, the allergist will examine the blood to detect any allergens. In a consultation, he will discuss the further procedure with the patient. In addition, the doctor will inform about all those allergens that can also trigger a cross-allergy. If there is only an allergy to pollen and no cross-allergy has yet occurred, those high-risk allergens should nevertheless be avoided for precautionary reasons or at least their consumption should be restricted. In addition, the ingredients of finished products should be read carefully. Because in the case of a cross-allergy, even the smallest traces are enough to trigger an allergic reaction.
Complications
Because the allergic reaction in a cross-allergy is basically the same as in a common allergy, cross-allergy can lead to consequences as severe as any other allergy. Cross-allergies can lead to different symptoms depending on their severity.If, for example, the cross-allergy exists alongside a pollen allergy in the form of a food allergy, discomfort in the mouth and throat area, but also in the gastrointestinal tract, is to be expected when certain foods are ingested. Severe symptoms of a cross-allergy can become very dangerous. As with general allergy, cross-allergy can lead to severe complications, such as allergic shock. Allergic shock, as a life-threatening complication, can lead to impaired blood circulation and, in extreme cases, cardiac arrest. Since allergic shock is an emergency, it must be treated by a physician with medication or cardiac arrest resuscitation. Another complication is respiratory distress, which can occur in both allergy of origin and cross-allergy. The allergic reaction can cause swelling of the mucous membranes in the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. Due to a narrowing of the internal cross-section, the airflow is obstructed, resulting in respiratory distress. If contact with the particular allergen can be avoided, the occurrence of possible complications can be minimized.
When should you see a doctor?
Affected individuals suffering from an allergic reaction should always seek detailed information from a physician about possible cross-allergies. Once the presence of an allergy has been confirmed via medical tests, extensive information gathering about cross-reactions to other allergic triggers is required. However, if watery eyes, itchy skin or discoloration of the complexion occurs when food is consumed, a physician should be consulted. Rhinitis, reddening of the eyes or sore throat immediately after ingestion of food are further indications of the presence of an intolerance. A doctor should be consulted for medical treatment. The sudden and rapid appearance of pustules and poplars on the skin indicates irregularities that should be investigated. If there is a feeling of tightness in the throat or shortness of breath, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. If there are pauses in breathing, a choking sensation, or loss of respiratory activity, an ambulance should be alerted. People suffering from severe anxiety or a panic attack due to reduced breathing ability need immediate medical attention. If the affected person experiences anaphylactic shock, his or her life is in danger. An emergency physician must be called and first aid measures must be initiated immediately by persons present to ensure survival.
Treatment and therapy
If cross-allergy and associated pollen or dust mite allergy is left untreated, symptoms are at risk of worsening. A gradual shift from watery eyes and sneezing fits to shortness of breath, skin reactions, and even circulatory collapse takes place. If the dreaded anaphylactic shock occurs, a cross-allergy can even lead to death if left untreated. The treatment of a cross-allergy begins with finding out the original allergy. If this allergy is treated, the cross-allergy often disappears. If an allergy remains untreated, further allergies and cross-allergies threaten. The life of the affected person becomes more and more restricted. In the first place, the allergens should be avoided. This includes all foods that are associated with the cross-allergy. Medications are used to alleviate the symptoms. Acupuncture, autohemotherapy, the consumption of black cumin oil, nettle tea or homeopathic globules have led to many a cure. However, these alternative forms of treatment do not help all patients. In conventional medicine, desensitization is recommended. Here the patient is injected with tiny amounts of the allergen under the skin. If the pollen allergy is treated, the cross allergy to the food often improves as well.
Outlook and prognosis
There are reports of experience of sufferers in whom allergies and thus also cross-allergies have grown together, in whom they had suddenly disappeared. This is not the rule case. The best prognosis of not suffering any health damage due to a cross allergy is for those who manage to consistently avoid the allergen. If this is possible, usually no further allergic reaction occurs, which would be considered dangerous to health.Since consistent avoidance of an allergen is not always possible, desensitization also has a good prognosis for many sufferers. Those who attend all appointments here, where attenuated agents are injected for increasing desensitization, have a good chance of suffering no allergic reactions, or at least only attenuated ones. If this is also not possible, affected persons have to live with medications that are administered as needed to interrupt the allergic reactions caused by the cross-allergy. Today’s medications are very safe and so well tolerated that even children can usually be treated well with them. Therefore, if the medication is taken as prescribed by the doctor, the prognosis is also good that the cross-allergy can be brought under control.
Prevention
Cross-allergy cannot always be prevented. However, it is important to avoid the allergy triggers. Indoor molds should be eliminated. Tobacco smoke also has a harmful effect on the body. A mother should exclusively breastfeed her child for at least six months to reduce the risk of allergy. If an allergy is already present, certain foods should be enjoyed with caution. These include nuts (allergy to hazel pollen), stone fruits, carrots, celery (allergy to birch pollen), spices (allergy to mugwort) and tomato, kiwi, melon (allergy to grass pollen).
Follow-up
The question of aftercare depends on the success of the initial therapy. In principle, there is a chance of achieving a cure with the help of hyposensitization. If this is successful, no follow-up care is necessary. The recurrence of the cross-allergy is excluded. In all other cases the disease persists. The aftercare aims to avoid acute contact with allergens and to train the patient for his everyday life. This is done in a conversation. Scheduled follow-up examinations, such as those known from tumor diseases, are not planned. The patient therefore has a high degree of personal responsibility. When preparing meals, certain foods should be avoided or prepared in such a way that no intolerance develops. Nutritional counseling promises long-term freedom from symptoms. The prevention of complications is also a mainstay of aftercare. It can always happen that an allergic reaction develops due to carelessness. In this case, the patient must know how to behave. He will be informed about this during the initial diagnosis. As a standard, affected persons should carry an allergy passport and an emergency bag with medication. However, these measures are only suggested by doctors. The implementation falls to the sufferers themselves.
What you can do yourself
If a cross-allergy is present, there are some helpful tips that allergy sufferers can use to make their daily lives easier. For allergic reactions to fruits or vegetables, preparation can help. Instead of raw apples or cherries, cooked alternatives such as apple or cherry pie or even apple compote can be more tolerable. Carrots are also more tolerable when cooked. Often, individual varieties make all the difference. For allergy sufferers, avoiding alcohol as far as possible can also be very helpful, as alcohol can intensify the allergic reaction. The same applies to stress. It is therefore important to avoid possible stressful situations and strains in everyday life. In terms of nutrition, individual dietary counseling is recommended to find possible alternatives for food. Basically, medications help to alleviate the various symptoms of an allergy. These can be tablets, sprays for inhalation, creams or ointments or injections. In addition, a balanced diet is important as well as avoiding the allergen. In the case of severe allergic reactions, those affected and those around them should be informed about how to proceed in the event of an allergic reaction, for example, with severe circulatory problems. This includes an allergy passport and an allergy emergency kit with appropriate medication. Physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle can alleviate allergies and weaken symptoms.
