BEECH POLLEN ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Beech trees are commonly found across Europe, but less so in the UK, where they are most often found in Wales and the South East of England.
There is 1 allergen associated with beech tree pollen, Fag s 1. It is an allergen associated with airways.
Fag s 1 is a
Bet v 1 allergen, which means people suffering from this particular allergen may also be allergic to the pollen from birch trees.
Beech pollen occurs in the UK between March and May. This varies in different countries. It is considered to have low allergenicity.
Associated Syndromes
An allergy to beech tree pollen is strongly associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever).
As it contains a Bet v 1 protein it is strongly linked to oral allergy symptoms and
Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome - this is where eating raw fruits and vegetables can illicit an allergic reaction as they contain similarly shaped proteins.
A beech pollen allergy is also linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.
Cross Reactivity
Other plant pollens which contain Bet v 1-like proteins are alder, birch, chestnut, hazel, olive, oak and hornbeam.
If sensitised to birch pollen you may have Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome and may also react to foods such as kiwi, pear, peach, plum, nectarine, apricots, cherries, tomato, celery, carrot, potato, parsnip, pepper, dill, cumin, peas, coriander, fennel, hazelnut, walnut, almonds, apples, lentils and green beans.
Resources
Websites
Allergy UK - Allergic rhinitis
Alliance Allergy - Tree Pollen Allergy
Worcester Pollen Forecast
Allergen Encyclopedia - Beech Tree
Allergy UK - Managing your asthma and your allergic rhinitis throughout the seasons
Articles and Journals
A systematic review of allergen cross-reactivity: Translating basic concepts into clinical relevance, 2024
Method to develop a regional guide for the allergenic potential of tree pollen, 2024
Within city spatiotemporal variation of pollen concentration in the city of Toronto, Canada, 2022
Simplified AIT for allergy to several tree pollens-Arguments from the immune outcome analyses following treatment with SQ tree SLIT-tablet, 2021
Is allergy immunotherapy with birch sufficient to treat patients allergic to pollen of tree species of the birch homologous group? 2020
Comparative long-term trend analysis of daily weather conditions with daily pollen concentrations in Brussels, Belgium, 2017
Tree pollen allergens—an update from a molecular perspective, 2015
Panallergens and their impact on the allergic patient, 2010
The allergen profile of beech and oak pollen, 2008
Allergenic pollen and pollen allergy in Europe, 2007
Let me know if you found any of these interesting or useful.
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