Peanuts and tree nuts are considered common food allergens that affect children and adults alike. If you experience a burning, itching or tingling sensation in your mouth after you eat peanuts or tree nuts, call your doctor. Mouth itching, burring and tingling may be a sign of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. These sensations are caused by increased levels of histamine in your soft tissue that results from an allergic reaction. If you're allergic to certain pollens you may be experiencing oral allergy syndrome, a condition in which your mouth can tingle or burn after eating nuts.
Tree Nut and Peanut Allergy
Tree nuts include hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, pecans and any other nut that grows on a tree. Peanuts are not technically considered a nut, but rather a legume. Legumes also include peas, soy beans and lentils. If you're allergic to peanuts you may develop an allergic reaction to other legumes. During the allergic reaction, your immune system produces immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies that trigger the production of other chemicals in your body, such as histamine. Histamine causes inflammation in soft tissue that can result in a burning sensation.
If the burning in your mouth is the result of a peanut or tree nut allergy, you will develop other symptoms along with the burning sensation. These symptoms may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramping, bloating, eczema, general skin itching, hives, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and wheezing. Signs of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, include tingling, swelling or burning in your lips, mouth or tongue, hives, asthma, a drop in blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.
Oral Allergy Syndrome
Oral allergy syndrome is an allergic reaction that is isolated to burning, itching or tingling in your mouth after eating certain foods, such as fruits, vegetables or nuts. This condition occurs because your immune system confuses the proteins in certain nuts as pollen and releases histamine in your mouth. According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, chestnuts, hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds can trigger mouth burning if you're allergic to latex or birch pollen. Talk with you doctor to confirm this diagnosis.
If you develop burning after eating certain nuts or peanuts, stop eating them until you can be evaluated by your physician. If you're diagnosed with a nut or peanut allergy, you will need to read product labels and avoid the consumption of all nut and peanut ingredients.