Pollen Food Syndrome (PFS) – also known as oral allergy syndrome or pollen food allergy syndrome – causes affected individuals to experience an allergic reaction when consuming raw plant foods, and triggers can vary depending on an individual’s pollen sensitisation, which in turn is affected by geographical location. A guideline, published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy, has been developed for the diagnosis and management of PFS.
The guideline was drafted by the British Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology Standards of Care Committee. The correct diagnosis of PFS ensures the avoidance of a misdiagnosis of a primary peanut or tree nut allergy or confusion with another plant food allergy to non-specific lipid transfer proteins. The characteristic foods involved, and rapid-onset oropharyngeal symptoms, mean PFS can often be diagnosed from the clinical history alone. Management focuses on avoiding known trigger foods, which may appear to be simple, but can be difficult if coupled with a pre-existing food allergy, or for individuals following a vegetarian/vegan diet.
“More studies on the effect of PFS on health-related quality of life are needed to dispel the myth that because it usually manifests with mild symptoms, PFS is easily managed, and does not adversely affect the individual,” the authors wrote. “The number of foods and concern about new food triggers means dietary restrictions are often overly strict, so more research on novel treatments of PFS, including food immunotherapy, needs to be undertaken.”
Source: Wiley
