CELERY-MUGWORT-SPICE SYNDROME
Key Allergens
Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome is essentially a sub-category of Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome. The body mistakes the shape of a protein that it is already sensitive to (a plant pollen) to a similarly shaped protein in certain fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, and nuts.
As a less commonly seen type of Pollen Food Allergy it is referred to by multiple names.
Celery Carrot Mugwort Syndrome
Mugwort Mustard Allergy Syndrome
Mugwort Spice Syndrome
Celery Mugwort Birch Spice Syndrome
Mugwort Fennel Syndrome
Mugwort Peach Syndrome
Mugwort Chamomile Syndrome
In Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome the sensitising pollen is from the mugwort plant and allergic reactions are to foods that contain proteins which are similarly shaped.
In Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome the most common sensitising pollen is Bet v 1, which is an allergen from birch tree pollen. It is also sometimes referred to as a PR-10 protein (where PR means pathogenesis related). In Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome the sensitising allergen is a profilin protein called Art v 4, sometimes also called Bet v 2 proteins.
As a less commonly seen type of Pollen Food Allergy it is referred to by multiple names.
In Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome the sensitising pollen is from the mugwort plant and allergic reactions are to foods that contain proteins which are similarly shaped.
In Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome the most common sensitising pollen is Bet v 1, which is an allergen from birch tree pollen. It is also sometimes referred to as a PR-10 protein (where PR means pathogenesis related). In Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome the sensitising allergen is a profilin protein called Art v 4, sometimes also called Bet v 2 proteins.
Symptoms and Treatment
The symptoms associated with this syndrome are often referred to as OAS (Oral Allergy Syndrome) as it mostly affects people who already suffer from pollen allergies and seasonal rhinitis, but also includes a lot of oral symptoms like an itchy mouth, lips, tongue and throat.
You are unlikely to have a severe allergic reaction from eating foods associated with this syndrome and they should go away with anti-histamines. The protein which causes the reaction is easily denatured with cooking, freezing or processing, there is evidence that peeling of certain fruits can also reduce the symptoms.
You are unlikely to have a severe allergic reaction from eating foods associated with this syndrome and they should go away with anti-histamines. The protein which causes the reaction is easily denatured with cooking, freezing or processing, there is evidence that peeling of certain fruits can also reduce the symptoms.
Cross Reactivity
Other plants containing profilin inhalant allergens are ragweed, wormwood, birch, sunflower, olive, plantain, poplar and oak.
Profilins are also found as food allergens in kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, orange, hazelnut, melon, carrot, strawberry, soya, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato and aubergine.
The foods most commonly linked to Celery Mugwort Spice Syndrome are peach, melon, celery, carrots, camomile, fennel and other spices from the Apiaceae family which include coriander, caraway seed, celery, chervil, cumin, dill, aniseed and parsley.
You can download a Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome Factsheet from the Allergy Resources Ko-fi Shop for just $0.50 (£0.40 or €0.45). This has up to date information on which foods contain linked allergens and what to avoid if you think you have Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome.
Profilins are also found as food allergens in kiwi, celery, peanut, chilli, watermelon, orange, hazelnut, melon, carrot, strawberry, soya, walnut, lychee, lupin, apple, cherry, almond, peach, pear, mustard, tomato and aubergine.
The foods most commonly linked to Celery Mugwort Spice Syndrome are peach, melon, celery, carrots, camomile, fennel and other spices from the Apiaceae family which include coriander, caraway seed, celery, chervil, cumin, dill, aniseed and parsley.
You can download a Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome Factsheet from the Allergy Resources Ko-fi Shop for just $0.50 (£0.40 or €0.45). This has up to date information on which foods contain linked allergens and what to avoid if you think you have Celery-Mugwort-Spice Syndrome.
Resources
Websites
Allergy UK - Information and Advice
Allergen Encyclopedia - Mugwort
Dermnet NZ - Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome
Patient UK - Oral Allergy Syndrome
Articles and Journals
The Role of Defensins as Pollen and Food Allergens, 2023
Pollen-related food allergy in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis, 2021
Molecular approach to a patient’s tailored diagnosis of the oral allergy syndrome, 2020
Insights into pediatric pollen food allergy syndrome, 2020
Food cross-reactivity in patients with pollen allergies, 2020
Pollen-food allergy syndrome in children, 2020
Update on pollen-food allergy syndrome, 2020
Cross-reactivity between aeroallergens and food allergens, 2015
Curry spice allergy associated with pollen-food allergy syndrome and latex fruit-syndrome, 2009
Let me know if you found any of these interesting or useful.
If you spot an article or research that you think is interesting you can message me or tag me on Facebook or Twitter - links at the bottom of the page.