• Allergies

What is a Birch Pollen Allergy?

If you find yourself sneezing a lot and dealing with an itchy throat after the winter ends, you may have a birch pollen allergy. Birch trees may trigger allergy symptoms during the spring season for a lot of people. A pollen allergy can also change how it feels to eat other foods.

People with a pollen allergy are more likely to have oral allergy syndrome (OAS) — mild allergies to certain types of foods.  This may cause itchiness or tingling in your mouth and throat while eating some raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Symptoms of a Birch Pollen Allergy

A birch pollen allergy is a type of oral allergy syndrome that activates an allergy to a protein found in both birch pollen and certain foods. Since your body can’t tell the difference between the two, allergy symptoms occur when exposed to the protein in any form.

Common allergy symptoms you may experience include:

• Itchiness

• Tingling

• Watery eyes

• Runny nose

• Sneezing

• Postnasal drip

Severe symptoms of a birch pollen allergy

While most symptoms are mild, severe allergy symptoms can occur. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening severe allergic reaction that can lead to:

• Dizziness

• Rashes

• Fainting

• Bloating

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Cramping

• Trouble breathing

Be sure to seek emergency help if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned. While anaphylaxis from birch pollen allergy is rare, there is a small chance of it happening in some people.

Birch trees are commonly found in most places in the United States. Severe symptoms tend to occur when the pollen count is high. 

What Foods Trigger a Birch Pollen Allergy?

The types of foods that trigger allergies are different for everyone. While some people may have a pollen allergy and experience no symptoms, some may have mild allergies to the following foods:

• Almond

• Kiwi

• Parsley

• Celery

• Plum

• Soybean

• Carrot

• Celery

How to Diagnose Birch Pollen Allergy

A healthcare provider can diagnose a birch pollen allergy with different types of allergy tests. The skin prick test involves placing a diluted allergen to the skin. If the allergen causes bumps or other symptoms on the skin, you may have an allergy to that substance.

How to Treat a Birch Pollen Allergy

A mild allergy to certain foods can be managed by avoiding the allergen as much as possible. Over-the-counter medications like decongestants and corticosteroid nasal sprays may help relieve allergy symptoms. 

In anticipation of the allergy season, you can take the following medications:

Antihistamines: OTC medications that reduce the chemical histamine in the body. Histamine is a chemical that plays a role in immune system function. Common antihistamines include Zyrtec (cetirizine), Clarinex (desloratadine), and Allegra (fexofenadine). Be sure to follow directions for how and when to take antihistamines.

Nasal decongestants: A short-term medication to clear mucus and congestion out of the nasal passages. They are available as a spray that sends medication directly into the nasal passages.

Corticosteroid nasal spray: These medications reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. They can be used throughout the allergy season.

Saline eye drops: Sterile saline eye drops help to flush pollen out of the eyes and nose.

A healthcare provider may also offer allergen immunotherapy. This involves using allergy shots to inject a small amount of the allergen into the body to get the immune system familiar with it.  Over time, this may reduce allergy symptoms. There are also allergy tablets available that may reduce symptoms.

How to Prevent Birch Allergy Symptoms

Daily pollen count may influence how severe symptoms feel. While at home, keeping the windows closed and having an air purifier may help prevent symptoms while staying indoors. Try to avoid heavily wooded areas during the spring season.

Wearing a face mask can protect your mouth and nose from pollen. Be sure to wash your hands before touching your face after being outdoors. Nasal rinses and washes of saltwater and baking soda may help to rinse out nasal passages. A rinse can be made at home or bought from a local pharmacy.

How LifeMD Can Help

Allergies can feel like they’ve come out of nowhere. During the spring season, there are many options for managing allergy symptoms. At LifeMD, a licensed healthcare provider can offer you tips on preparing for allergy season.

Schedule an appointment today to learn more about dealing with birch pollen allergy symptoms.

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