Allergic reactions to stone fruits (apple, peach, cherry, nectarine etc) localised to the mouth, are common in Silver Birch tree pollen allergy and hay fever sufferers. This reaction is not related to chemicals pesticides or the manner in which the fruit is grown, for example organically grown fruits are just as likely to be problematic. Thankfully these reactions are rarely life threatening and no reaction occurs if the fruit is cooked. However some people of southern European descent are prone to more severe allergic reactions when eating stone fruits such as apple. nectarine, peach and hazelnut presenting with a more generalised anaphylaxic response. This group of higher risk patients who are more likely to develop a severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions can be identified by a simple blood test which measures antiodies to a protein found in stone-fruit family called Pru p 3. Those with milder Silver Birch oral allergy syndrome (OAS) can be identified by measuring antibodies to the Pru p 1 component allergen found in the fruit. These tests done on a blood sample can be arranged by your GP and the results will help identify those at greater risk of a more severe fruit related allergic reaction.
Reference: Asero R et al, J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;112:427-32, Asero R, Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2005;138:1-11.
