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Food related, exercise induced anaphylaxis
C Caffarelli1, V Terzi, F Perrone
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIAn) can occur in young children. Diagnosing this condition requires considering specific food triggers alongside exercise challenges when other causes are unknown.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Investigation
Background:
- Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIAn) is a condition that can be triggered by physical activity.
- Food-dependent EIAn is a specific subtype where food intake precedes exercise, leading to anaphylactic reactions.
- Investigating EIAn in young children necessitates understanding potential food triggers.
Observation:
- Four children under 12 with suspected food-dependent EIAn underwent controlled exercise challenges.
- Challenges involved exercise after fasting and after meals, with and without specific suspected foods.
- Three positive food-exercise challenge combinations were identified, with no reactions occurring without suspected food intake.
Findings:
- Positive reactions were exclusively observed when exercise followed the intake of specific suspected foods.
- Skin prick tests and RAST (serum specific IgE) showed positive results in two out of three evaluated cases.
- One patient did not exhibit a clinical reaction during food-exercise combination challenges.
Implications:
- Food-dependent EIAn should be considered in the differential diagnosis of EIAn in young children, especially when the cause is unclear.
- This subtype of EIAn requires careful diagnostic evaluation involving specific food challenges.
- Identifying food triggers is crucial for managing and preventing future anaphylactic episodes in affected children.