Tips offered for treating patients with seasonal, food allergies

Seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms may be linked to specific food allergies, according to Joseph G. Leija, MD, FAAAAI.

“It’s healthy if certain foods make your mouth water, but it is unhealthy if foods make your nose run or your gums and throat itch,” Leija, an allergist who performs the Gottlieb Allergy Count, the official allergy count for the Midwest, said in a press release. “The spring allergy count in the Midwest is high in birch and oak, which usually triggers reactions to carrots, celery, almonds, apples, peaches and pears in those with sensitive systems.”

Joseph G. Leija

He advises patients with grass allergies to avoid melon, tomatoes and oranges; patients with ragweed allergies also tend to have allergies to bananas, cantaloupe, cucumber, zucchini and chamomile tea. Not all patients, however, will react the same, according to the release.

Clinicians can provide the following tips to patients for avoiding severe allergic symptoms:

Wash hair before sleep to remove trapped pollens
Rinse nostrils lightly with saline solution daily to remove irritants
Keep windows closed to protect inside air from contaminants
Run air conditioners and air purifiers to remove pollutants
Leave outdoor-exposed gear such as shoes and backpacks on the porch to preserve interior air
Cover mouth with a handkerchief or mask when doing spring yard cleanups, including raking, edging and mowing

“Difficulty breathing and itchy rashes are signs [for patients] to go to a board-certified allergist or, in extreme cases, straight to the emergency room,” Leija said.