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Sunday, November 27, 2005Of 379 subjects with self-reported histories compatible with IgE-mediated food allergy to nuts or seeds, 20 (5.3 percent) reported reactions from kissing, although there was no direct query about this mode of exposure in our questionnaire. All 20 subjects (4 men and 16 women) reported a life-threatening food allergy. Seventeen were available for further questioning... The study was approved by the institutional review board, and all subjects gave written informed consent. The implicated foods were peanuts, walnuts, and other tree nuts. Reactions began rapidly after the kiss in all interviewed subjects (all in less than one minute). All 17 reported localized itching and swelling or urticaria in the area kissed. Four subjects reported the development of wheezing with at least one episode of kissing. Patient 5 was kissed on the cheek by his mother right after she tasted pea soup on the stove and a large wheal immediately developed at the exact site of the kiss, followed in minutes by flushing, urticaria, angioedema, and severe wheezing, requiring the administration of epinephrine in the emergency department. His mother reported that he had not had access to the soup for possible ingestion. It is unknown whether the soup contained peanut flour or whether the child had an additional pea allergy. Be careful who you kiss, especially if you have food allergies. P.S. Food allergy as murder weapon would make a good plot line for a murder mystery. Alfred Hitchcock used it once, but only peripherally - and not with a kiss - in Suspicion. posted by Sydney on 11/27/2005 09:20:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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