Olive Tree
Allergy Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment

Known for their unique leaves, which are dark green on one side and silvery on the other, olive trees are subtropical evergreens.1 Their flowers are wind pollinated and produce large quantities of pollen.2 Originally cultivated throughout the Mediterranean, where olive tree pollen is recognized as one of the most important causes of seasonal respiratory allergy, olive trees are now spread over most subtropical regions of the world.2-4

Where are olive trees found?

While olive trees likely originated in the Mediterranean, they're now found in most subtropical regions, such as various locations in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, and Portugal.1,3

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Are there other allergens I could be sensitized to?*

Many patients with olive 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 olive tree pollen allergy include ash, lilac, and privet pollen, and limited other tree, weed, and grass pollens.7

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 and materials involved in OAS for olive tree include latex and fruits such as peach, pear, melon, kiwi, banana, and pineapple.10

Knowing the proteins, or components, within each allergen that are triggering your symptoms can help guide your management plan. With that in mind, and based on your symptom history, your healthcare provider may suggest something called a specific IgE component test, which can help reveal other pollens you may react to. Results from this test can also help your healthcare provider decide if allergen immunotherapy may reduce your symptoms.7

Already have your specific IgE component test results?

Your component test results will include the name of the components (a series of letters and numbers). Your healthcare provider will likely review the results with you, but here you'll find an at-a-glance breakdown you can use as a reference. Simply match the component names to the list below to see what they mean in terms of symptom management.

rOle e 1

  • Indicates symptoms are caused by olive/ash pollen.7
  • Patient may be considered for olive pollen immunotherapy.7

 rOle e 7, nOle e 9

  • Pollen allergy symptoms may be caused by tree, weed, or grass pollens other than olive/ash pollen.7
  • In areas of high exposure to olive trees, allergy to rOle e 7 and nOle e 9 has been associated with increased severity of the pollen allergy.7

rBet v 2, rBet v 4

  • Pollen allergy symptoms may be caused by any tree, weed, or grass pollens. 7
  • If experiencing PFAS to apple, cherry, hazelnut, etc., birch pollen allergy may be the cause.7

Test results should be interpreted by your healthcare provider in the context of your clinical history. Final diagnosis and decision on further management is made by your healthcare provider.

*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.6,8,9

  • 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.

Looking for more allergy info and management tips?

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Olive Tree Allergen Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment

Common Symptoms

Olive tree allergy symptoms can be similar to many other pollen allergies and may include:5,6

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

If you're sensitized to olive trees and have asthma, tree pollen may trigger or worsen asthma symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing.5,6

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

While tree pollen is common in the spring, olive trees typically pollinate in April and May.3,5

  1. Encyclopedia Britannica [Internet]. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.; 2019 May 1. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/plant/olive-plant.
  2. Guerin J, Sedgley M. Cross-pollination in olive cultivars. Australian Government Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. 2007 Oct:1. Available from: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.606.2306&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
  3. Tropicos.org [Internet]. St. Louis, MO: Missouri Botanical Garden. 2020 Sep 26. Available from: http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/23000814?projectid=32.
  4. Liccardi G, D'Amato M, D'Amato G: Oleaceae Pollinosis: A Review. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1996;111:210-217. doi: 10.1159/000237370.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  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. Popescu F-D. Cross-reactivity between aeroallergens and food allergens. World J Methodol 2015 June 26; 5(2): 31-50
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