Generally, mild allergic reactions in the mouth resolve on their own shortly after you stop eating the trigger food.
Here's a more detailed look at managing oral allergy symptoms:
Management and Treatment of Mouth Allergies
If you experience an allergic reaction in your mouth, the primary approach is to manage the symptoms and prevent future occurrences. Here’s what you can do:
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Stop Eating the Trigger Food: The most immediate step is to stop consuming the food causing the reaction.
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Antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamine medications may help reduce the severity of the reaction or prevent it from worsening. However, mild symptoms often disappear faster than the medication takes to work.
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Epinephrine (EpiPen): If you experience a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) that includes difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, or dizziness, use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) immediately and seek emergency medical attention. This is less common with oral allergy syndrome, but it's crucial to be prepared if you have known severe allergies.
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Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS): This is a common type of mouth allergy, often triggered by raw fruits and vegetables.
- Cooking the Food: Heating the fruit or vegetable can often denature the proteins that cause the allergic reaction, making it safe to eat.
- Avoidance: If cooking doesn't help or isn't practical, avoid the offending raw fruits and vegetables.
- Allergy Testing: Consult an allergist to identify specific triggers.
- Immunotherapy: In some cases, immunotherapy (allergy shots or sublingual immunotherapy) might be an option. However, it's less common for OAS and generally more effective for pollen allergies associated with OAS.
When to See a Doctor
Consult a doctor or allergist if:
- You experience frequent or severe allergic reactions in your mouth.
- You're unsure what's causing your allergic reactions.
- Over-the-counter medications aren't providing relief.
- You're concerned about a potential severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
