Food-induced allergic reactions are responsible for a variety of symptoms and disorders involving the skin , gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and can be attributed to IgE-mediated and non–IgE-mediated (cellular) mechanisms.
Food allergy frequency varies according to age, local diet, and many other factors. The diagnose of food allergy is based on clinical history, skin prick test (SPT), food specific IgE and more recently atopy patch tests (APT ). If needed, the use of an oral food challenge to confirm allergy or tolerance.
Methods:
Describes the case of a patient with multiple manifestations of food allergy after eating habit change.
Results:
Man 20 years with a history of food allergy to egg in childhood (at date in remission) ,asthma and rhinitis and urticaria in contact to cats. He presents an atopic dermatitis, recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea 18 months after change in eating habits (he became vegetarian). He also presents oral syndrome with cow's milk. The patient had 4 episodes of anaphylaxis post prandial grade 3. In 3 of them the patient ate goat cheese and the other cow cheese. Also 2 of the episodes were associated with exercise. Skin prick tests with goat`s cheese: 13mm, cow´s milk : 8mm wheat: 3 mm,corn 3mm , chicken 3.5 mm, egg yolk: 3.5 mm, avocado and rice 3mm . Atopyatch test: (+ +) goat`s milk (+) peanuts and coffee. Total IgE 686 IU/ml.
Foods with positive results were excluded from the diet and a complete remission of atopic dermatitis, abdominal pain, diarrhea and anaphylaxis was observed. all foods were reintroduced successfully except milk of goat`s and cow`s milk. The patient is currently asymptomatic.
Conclusions:
The literature describes different kinds of manifestations of food allergy: immediate hypersensitivity (IgE mediated), delayed hypersensitivity (T lymphocytes mediated) and mixed. Highlights in this case an adult patient with a history of atopy who makes changes in eating habits, developping a food allergy to goat´s and cow `s milk, with immediate (anaphylaxis, oral syndrome) and delayed manifestations (atopic dermatitis and chronic diarrhea ).