The Clinical Characteristics of Anisakis Allergy in Korea.
10.3904/kjim.2009.24.2.160
- Author:
Sung Jin CHOI
1
;
Jae Chun LEE
;
Moo Jung KIM
;
Gyu Young HUR
;
Seung Youp SHIN
;
Hae Sim PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Allergy & Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. hspark@ajou.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Anisakis simplex;
Fish;
Food allergy
- MeSH:
Abdominal Pain/immunology;
Adult;
Aged;
Anaphylaxis/immunology;
Angioedema/immunology;
Animals;
Anisakiasis/complications/ethnology/*immunology;
Anisakis/*immunology;
Antibodies, Helminth/*blood;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Female;
Food Hypersensitivity/complications/ethnology/*immunology;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin E/*blood;
Korea/epidemiology;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Seafood/*adverse effects/parasitology;
Urticaria/immunology;
Young Adult
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2009;24(2):160-163
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Anisakidae larvae can cause anisakiasis when ingested by humans. Although several groups have reported a gastrointestinal Anisakis allergy among people in Spain and Japan, our report is the first to summarize the clinical features of 10 Anisakis allergy cases in Korea. We enrolled 10 Korean patients (6 men and 4 women) who complained of aggravated allergic symptoms after ingesting raw fish or seafood. Sensitization to Anisakis was confirmed by detecting serum specific IgE to Anisakis simplex. The most common manifestation of anisakiasis was urticaria (100%), followed by abdominal pain (30%) and anaphylaxis (30%). All patients presenting with these symptoms also exhibited high serum specific IgE (0.45 to 100 kU/L) to A. simplex. Nine patients (90%) exhibited atopy and increased total serum IgE levels. The fish species suspected of carrying the Anisakis parasite were flatfish (40%), congers (40%), squid (30%), whelk (10%), and tuna (10%). Anisakis simplex should be considered as a possible causative food allergen in adult patients presenting with urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis following the consumption of raw fish or seafood.
