Pecan and Hickory Tree Allergen Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment
Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
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Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
Is your patient a candidate for specific IgE testing?
Get detailed information on whole allergens and allergen components.
Ready to test a patient?
Access videos and webinars delivered by key experts in the field of allergy.
The Carya genus, aka hickory, is split into two groups of four species each: pecan hickory and true hickory. The former includes pignut hickory, shellbark hickory, shagbark hickory, and mockernut hickory. The latter offers water hickory, bitternut hickory, pecan, and nutmeg hickory.1 True hickory and pecan hickory trees are native to North America and Asia, but pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) have been introduced to many countries.2,3 While hickory trees cause pollinosis (aka hay fever and allergic rhinitis) where the trees are abundant, pecans are reported to cause severe pollinosis. Both species are wind pollinated in the spring.4
Both hickory and pecan trees are native to North America, but pecan trees have been introduced into many countries and are cultivated in Australia and South Africa.2,3
Many patients with pecan and hickory 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.9 Other respiratory allergens that may cause reactions associated with pecan hickory pollen allergy include walnut trees and limited other tree, weed, and grass pollens.10
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The management of allergic rhinitis includes avoidance of relevant allergens, symptomatic treatment, and allergen immunotherapy.6-8
Pecan hickory tree allergy symptoms can be similar to many other pollen allergies and may include:5,6
If you're sensitized to pecan hickory trees and have asthma, tree pollen may trigger or worsen asthma symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing.5,6
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.
Tree pollen is common in the spring.5