Pollen Allergy: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate a pollen allergy:

• Asthmatic complaints
• Eye watering, eye itching
• Runny nose, stuffy nose
• Frequent sneezing
• Coughing irritation
• Conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis)

Allergy to pollen may cause one of the following cross-reactions (cross-allergy):

• Mugwort pollen
  • Potatoes
  • Apples, kiwi, lychee, mango, melon
  • Artichoke, cucumber, carrot, bell bell pepper, celery, tomato.
  • Peanuts, sunflower seeds
  • Herbs and spices – including anise, basil, curry, chili, fennel, ginger, chamomile, cardamom, garlic, coriander, cumin, mayoran, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, bell pepper, thyme.
• Birch pollen
  • Pome fruit – apples, pears, quinces
  • Stone fruit – apricots, mirabelles, nectarines, peaches, plums, plums.
  • Carrots, roots
  • Nuts
  • Spices – cayenne bell pepper, coriander, cumin, paprika, mustard (this is present in many convenience foods; traces of mustard are often found in spreads, burgers, patties, marinades, pickled vegetables, curries, and spice blends, sauces, and pastes), white pepper
• Grass pollen
  • Cereals – oats, barley, rye, wheat
  • Raw potatoes
  • Kiwi, melon, watermelon
  • Tomatoes
  • Green peas
  • Peanuts
  • Soy
• Olive pollen
  • Pineapple
  • Horseradish
• Celery – “celery-carrot-mugwort–spice syndrome”.
  • Carrots
  • Spices – anise, basil, dill, fennel, coriander, cumin (Cuminum cyminum; also cumin or cumin), lovage, mayoran, oregano, thyme.
  • Mugwort pollen
• Grape weed pollen (USA, increasing distribution also in Europe).
  • Banana, melon
  • Chamomile