[Hypersensitivity to Anisakis simplex: apropos of 36 cases]

The authors report a group of 36 cases of hypersensitivity to Anisakis simplex, a fish parasite. They examined 11 boys and 25 girls who attended the Allergy service of the Central Hospital Marques of Valdecilla in Santander (Spain), between 12th May 1997 and 26th June 1998, for history of acute urticaria, most often after an aggravation of an allergic pathology. All were given an immunological examination that was composed of: food investigation, prick test, measurement of total and specific IgE and blood eosinophilia. In conclusion, the authors emphasize an increase in hypersensitivity to Anisakis simplex, masked by a food allergy and in spite of a nematode infection. Blood eosinophilia was normal in most cases.