Dr Pamela Ewan, an allergy consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, UK, said the rise in cases appears to be outstripping even peanut allergies. Dr Ewan, who sees more than 8,000 people with allergies a year, said most patients with reactions to fruit and vegetables were youngsters.
Symptoms include swelling in the mouth and throat, and breathing difficulties.
According to Dr Adam Fox, a consultant paediatric allergist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, people who are actually allergic to pollen, such as birch pollen are the ones affected.
There appears to be a cross-reactivity between the protein in that pollen with those in fruit and vegetables, which caused an allergic towards fruits such as apples and pears.
Other experts agree with this hypothesis and add that particles from diesel exhaust may be making the situation worse as they make pollen more allergenic.
Source
Chapter: Allergies :: 26 May 2009
