6533b824fe1ef96bd128153b

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Harmful effect of immunotherapy in children with combined snail and mite allergy

Giovanni Battista PajnoGiovanni PassalacquaGiorgio Walter CanonicaStefania La GruttaGiovanni Barberio

subject

MiteMaleAllergen immunotherapyAllergyAdolescentSnails; Animals; Food Hypersensitivity; Immunotherapy; Humans; Mites; Child; Adolescent; Male; Female; Cross ReactionsSnailsImmunologyCross Reactionsmedicine.disease_causeAllergenFood allergyparasitic diseasesmedicineAnimalsHumansImmunology and AllergyIngestionFood allergy; House dust mite; Immunotherapy; SnailChildAsthmaHouse dust miteMitesintegumentary systembiologyAnimalbusiness.industrymedicine.diseasebiology.organism_classificationSnailImmunologyFemaleImmunotherapybusinessFood HypersensitivityAnaphylaxisHuman

description

Abstract Background: With respect to allergy, the possibility of cross-reactivity between snail and mite is well recognized, and anecdotal reports suggesting that allergen immunotherapy with mite extract can worsen snail-induced allergy exist. Objective: We describe the effect of immunotherapy in 4 children with snail-mite allergy. Methods: Four children (1 boy and 3 girls; 9-13 years of age) had consistent clinical histories (mild immediate respiratory symptoms after ingestion) and positive skin reactions for allergy to snail. They also had mite-induced asthma and were therefore prescribed subcutaneous specific immunotherapy and subsequently followed. Results: Several months (8-25) after starting immunotherapy, all children experienced life-threatening reactions, anaphylaxis, and respiratory failure after inadvertent ingestion of snail. Skin reactivity to the fresh food increased in all patients. Conclusions: This observation confirms that in patients with combined mite-snail allergy, immunotherapy should be avoided. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;109:627-9.)

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2002-04-01
http://hdl.handle.net/10447/102907