Dust mite ingestion-associated, exercise-induced anaphylaxis: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Abstract Background Oral mite anaphylaxis (OMA) is a condition characterized by severe allergic reactions after ingesting food containing dust mite-contaminated flour. Physical exertion is recognized as a common trigger factor inducing anaphylaxis. The association of OMA with exercise-induced anaphylaxis has rarely been reported. Case presentation We report a 29-year-old Thai woman who had dust mite ingestion-associated, exercise-induced anaphylaxis who tolerated the same bag of contaminated flour without exercise. A sample of contaminated cooking flour was examined under a light microscope. Living mites, Dermatophagoides farinae, were detected by a medical entomologist based on the morphology. We performed skin test to both mite-contaminated and newly opened Gogi® cooking flour, common aeroallergens, food allergens, and all other ingredients in the fried coconut rice cake 5 weeks after the anaphylactic episode. Specific IgE tests, using ImmunoCAP were also performed. Conclusions Dust mite ingestion-associated, exercise-induced anaphylaxis may be misdiagnosed as wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis and should be suspected in patients with anaphylaxis linked to food intake and exercise, but who have no apparent evidence to the index food ingredients on allergy workup.

Keywords

• Pancake syndrome
• Oral mite anaphylaxis
• Food allergy
• House dust mite
• Exercise-induced anaphylaxis