Allergic reactions to peach sensitization may include symptoms of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) such as oropharyngeal symptoms (oral itching, swelling), anaphylaxis, systemic symptoms (gastrointestinal involvement - nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, swelling, and sometimes severe asthma) (20) .
Oral allergy symptoms and Anaphylaxis
A cross-sectional study evaluated 127 OAS patients diagnosed using a skin prick test or a serum IgE test. Only 56 patients responded to the questionnaire regarding the allergy-causing foods and their associated symptoms (OAS or allergic rhino conjunctivitis (ARC)). Patients with OAS symptoms experienced itchiness and swelling in the oral mucosa, lips, and throat, systemic skin symptoms, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and shock (collapse). ARC patients complained of rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sneezing, and eye itching. Forty-three of 56 patients (14 in the subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) group and 29 in non-SCIT group) selected peach as the causative agent for OAS. (21).
A retrospective chart review study conducted on 1,427 patients showed that peach was one of the frequent contributors (56%) for OAS manifestation. 96.2% of 26 patients developed OAS as a symptom of food allergy. Patients with OAS symptoms exhibited reactions such as itchiness or swelling of the mouth, face, lip, tongue, and throat. Of 25 patients with OAS, 72% had rhino conjunctivitis (n=18), 20% had asthma (n=5), 12% chronic urticaria (n=3), 12% anaphylaxis (n=3), 4% atopic dermatitis (AD), (n=1) (22).
Anaphylaxis
One case reported a 62-year-old woman having an episode of anaphylaxis while eating a peach. She experienced nausea, vomiting, itchiness of the mouth, face and hands, facial edema, and dizziness. Though she did not complain of hives, but had redness on her hands, feet and face (23).
Another case study reported a 25-year-old woman developing an anaphylactic reaction upon moderate physical exertion after consuming peach. Additionally, massive facial swelling (particularly on the eyelids) and labored breathing, due to swelling of the lower throat was observed (24).
In a prospective cross-sectional study, oral food challenge (OFC) using peach pulp were done in all patients, except one, as he had cardiopathy and developed anaphylaxis after consuming peach on two different occasions. Children presented allergic reactions such as mucocutaneous symptoms (angioedema, urticaria, OAS, conjunctivitis), vomiting, and respiratory symptoms (cough, bronchospasm, rhinitis, etc.) (25).
Asthma
A study evaluated the allergic response to various inhalant allergens in 37 peach crop workers diagnosed with seasonal occupational ARC and asthma. This study showed that all patients had varying severity of ARC symptoms, and most reported (33/37) persistent rhino conjunctivitis. Six patients with both ARC and asthma underwent a specific bronchial challenge test with peach leaf extract. Four of these patients were sensitized to leaf extract. Two patients reported a decrease in decline in lung function. Twenty-five (67.5% of 37) patients reported asthma, of which 12 suffered from severe asthma. (8).
Other diseases
A double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFCs) was conducted with peach and apple in 289 patients. In the DBPCFC group with peach-allergic patients, 92.9% had OAS (66/71), 19.7% abdominal pain (14/71), 7% vomiting (5/71), 1 patient complained of diarrhea, 14% showed skin pruritis (10/71), 9.8% had urticaria (7/71), 14% with rhino conjunctivitis (10/71), and 4.2% complained of cough (3/71) (26).