Oak Tree
Allergy Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment

Oak (genus Quercus) comprises roughly 450 different species of ornamental and timber trees and shrubs.1 Shedding substantial amounts of pollen that spreads via wind, oaks are commonly allergenic and may cause severe reactions.2,3 Widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, oaks produce pollen that is a major cause of hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis) symptoms.4,5

Where are oak trees found?

Residing in urban, residential, and forest areas, oak trees are scattered across North America, the West Indies, Central America, Eurasia, and portions of Africa and South America.2,4

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Are there other allergens I could be sensitized to?*

Many patients with oak tree allergy can experience symptoms when exposed to other allergens such as tree, weed, or grass pollens, making it difficult to determine which pollen is causing the symptoms, especially when pollen seasons are overlapping. This is called cross-reactivity and occurs when your body's immune system identifies the proteins, or components, in different substances as being structurally similar or biologically related, thus triggering a response. Other respiratory allergens that may cause reactions associated with oak tree pollen allergy include grass pollen and birch, alder, hazel, and beech tree pollens.10

If you experience an itchy mouth or throat after eating fresh fruit or raw vegetables, you may suffer from Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), sometimes called Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS). This condition is caused by your immune system's reaction to similar proteins, or components, found in different allergens. It is quite common, with up to 25 percent of children with allergic rhinitis (i.e., hay fever) also suffering from OAS.7 Common plant foods involved in OAS for oak tree include apple, cherry, peach, hazelnut, peanut, carrot, celery, soy, strawberry, and many more.10

*These products may not be approved for clinical use in your country. Please work with your healthcare provider to understand availability.

How do I manage my allergy?

The management of allergic rhinitis includes avoidance of relevant allergens, symptomatic treatment, and allergen immunotherapy.7-9

  • Check local pollen counts daily and limit time outside when tree-pollen counts are high. Rain helps clear pollen from the air, so the best time to go outside is after a good rain.
  • Delegate outdoor chores whenever possible and wear a pollen mask if you must do outside tasks. 
  • Keep windows closed and use air conditioning instead.
  • Wash bedding at least once a week in hot, soapy water.
  • Wash your clothes after outdoor activities and dry all clothes in a dryer as opposed to line drying outdoors.
  • Bathe and wash your hair every day before bedtime to keep pollen out of your bed.
  • Wipe off any pets to remove pollen before letting them into your home.
  • Ensure everyone removes their shoes before entering your home.
  • Use certified asthma and allergy air filters.
  • Pharmacological treatment, including antihistamines, corticosteroids, decongestants, and saline douches.
  • Allergen immunotherapy as directed by your healthcare provider.

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Oak Tree Allergen Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment

Common Oak Tree Allergy Symptoms

Oak tree allergy symptoms can be similar to many other pollen allergies and may include:6,7

  • Sneezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Watery eyes
  • Itchy throat and eyes
  • Wheezing

If you're sensitized to oak trees and have asthma, tree pollen may trigger or worsen asthma symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing.6,7

How do I know if I'm allergic?*

Together with your symptom history, skin-prick testing or specific IgE blood testing can help determine if you are sensitized to a particular allergen. If you are diagnosed with an allergy, your healthcare provider will work with you to create a management plan.

*These products may not be approved for clinical use in your country. Please work with your healthcare provider to understand availability.

Pollen Season

Tree pollen is common in the spring.6

  1. Encyclopedia Britannica [Internet]. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.; 2019 Mar 27. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/plant/oak.
  2. Pollen.com [Internet]. Plymouth Meeting, PA: IQVIA Inc.; 2020. Available from: https://www.pollen.com/research/genus/quercus.
  3. Snyder M. Northern Woodlands [Internet]. Lyme, NH: Northern Woodlands; 2009 Apr 20. Available from: https://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/why_are_some_trees_pollinated_by_wind_and_some_by_insects.
  4. Nixon KC. Flora of North America. |place unknown|: Flora of North America Association; 2019 Jul 26 [2020 May 28]. Available from: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Quercus.
  5. Ross AM, Corden JM, Fleming DM. The role of oak pollen in hay fever consultations in general practice and the factors influencing patients' decisions to consult. Br J Gen Pract. 1996 Aug;46(409):451-5. PMID: 8949322; PMCID: PMC1239713.
  6. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology [Internet]. Arlington Heights, IL: American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; 2014 [2018 Apr 23]. Available from: https://acaai.org/allergies/types/pollen-allergy.
  7. Roberts, Graham & Xatzipsalti, M & Borrego, Luis & Custovic, Adnan & Halken, Susanne & Hellings, Peter & Papadopoulos, Nikolaos & Rotiroti, G & Scadding, Glenis & Timmermans, Frans & Valovirta, Erkka. (2013). Paediatric rhinitis: Position paper of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Allergy. 68. 10.1111/all.12235.
  8. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America [Internet]. Arlington, VA: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America; 2019 Apr 9. Available from: https://community.aafa.org/blog/tips-for-preventing-allergic-reactions-to-tree-and-grass-pollen.
  9. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Rochester, MN; Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2020 Apr 16. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hay-fever/in-depth/seasonal-allergies/art-20048343.
  10. Matricardi PM, Kleine-Tebbe J, Hoffmann HJ, Valenta R, Hilger C, Hofmaier S, Aalberse RC, Agache I, Asero R, Ballmer-Weber B, Barber D, Beyer K, Biedermann T, Bilò MB, Blank S, Bohle B, Bosshard PP, Breiteneder H, Brough HA, Caraballo L, Caubet JC, Crameri R, Davies JM, Douladiris N, Ebisawa M, EIgenmann PA, Fernandez-Rivas M, Ferreira F, Gadermaier G, Glatz M, Hamilton RG, Hawranek T, Hellings P, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Jakob T, Jappe U, Jutel M, Kamath SD, Knol EF, Korosec P, Kuehn A, Lack G, Lopata AL, Mäkelä M, Morisset M, Niederberger V, Nowak-W?grzyn AH, Papadopoulos NG, Pastorello EA, Pauli G, Platts-Mills T, Posa D, Poulsen LK, Raulf M, Sastre J, Scala E, Schmid JM, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, van Hage M, van Ree R, Vieths S, Weber R, Wickman M, Muraro A, Ollert M. EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2016 May;27 Suppl 23:1-250. doi: 10.1111/pai.12563. PMID: 27288833.
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