Management involves exclusion of known trigger foods; immunotherapy to pollens not effective for PFS<\/em><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n <\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n \n\tTHURSDAY, Sept. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) — In a clinical practice guideline issued by the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and published online Aug. 17 in Clinical & Experimental Allergy<\/em>, recommendations are presented for the diagnosis and management of pollen food syndrome (PFS).\n<\/p>\n \n\tNoting that PFS sufferers experience allergic symptoms when consuming raw plant foods, Isabel J. Skypala, Ph.D., from the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals in London, and colleagues developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of PFS in the United Kingdom. The recommendations were formulated using the SIGN methodology due to a lack of high-quality evidence.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe authors noted that correct diagnosis of PFS ensures avoidance of misdiagnosis of a primary peanut or tree nut allergy or confusion with another plant food allergy. PFS can often be diagnosed from history alone due to the characteristic foods involved and rapid-onset oropharyngeal symptoms. Additional diagnostic tests may be required for reactions involving tree nuts, peanuts, and soya milk or severe\/atypical reactions to fruits and vegetables. Management involves exclusion of known trigger foods, which can be highly problematic if coupled with a preexisting food allergy or for those following a vegetarian\/vegan diet. Immunotherapy to pollens is not an effective treatment for PFS; oral or sublingual immunotherapy to foods seems more promising. Severe reactions can occur in PFS, and anxiety about symptom onset to new foods can impact quality of life.\n<\/p>\n \n\t“The rising prevalence of PFS comes at a time when there is a world-wide change in dietary habits, with more people adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, thus nutritional aspects of PFS need further consideration and research,” the authors write.\n<\/p>\n \n\tSeveral authors disclosed financial ties to the biotechnology and other industries.\n<\/p>\n