Cross-allergies
Understand cross-allergies
If you are allergic to pollen, you may experience sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes. Then you get an unexpected reaction, such as swelling after biting into an apple.
These are called cross-allergies and some are surprising.
What is a cross-allergy ?
A cross-allergy occurs when a person who is allergic to one substance (e.g. pollen) reacts to another (e.g. food), because they have a similar chemical composition or proteins that cause the allergy. It is considered that individuals allergic to pollen are 2 to 3 times more likely to have a food allergy.
There is a health risk from so-called "cross-over" allergies between respiratory and food allergies. This type of allergy includes pollen-to-pollen, food-to-food and pollen-to-food cross-allergies.
The link between respiratory and food allergies
Professor Jocelyne Just, cites food allergy as one of the consequences of respiratory allergy. She talks in particular about the molecular relationship between pollens and fruits and vegetables.
According to the ALK laboratory, "in the case of a cross-allergy, the respiratory allergy most often precedes the appearance of a food allergy" even if the opposite has also been observed. Thus, an allergy to pollens would multiply by three the risk of developing a food allergy.
The first symptoms of cross-allergy with food are tingling, itching and even swelling of the mouth and throat. But these symptoms can worsen and lead to angioedema or generalised hives, in addition to the classic symptoms of allergy (allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma).
Food allergies crossed with pollen allergy
Among the most widespread cross-allergies are food allergies linked to the pollens of birch, mugwort, ragweed, plantain or grasses.
Indeed, if, like nearly a third of French people, you are allergic to pollen, and more particularly to birch pollen, you may develop a sensitivity to several fruits and vegetables such as apricot, peach, apple, celery, kiwi, carrot, almond...
It is therefore important to know the allergens responsible for your allergies in order to anticipate the manifestations of a potential cross-allergy.
You can find other cross-allergies (grasses, latex, mites, cat hair, etc.) in the advice file published by the ALK laboratory.
In 30 years, one in two people will suffer from an allergy
According to the WHO, in 2050, 50% of the population will suffer from one or more allergies. Also, cases of allergic rhinitis, asthma or cross-allergies will multiply in the years to come.
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