Korean J Intern Med.  2009 Jun;24(2):160-163. 10.3904/kjim.2009.24.2.160.

The Clinical Characteristics of Anisakis Allergy in Korea

• Choi SJ
• Lee JC
• Kim MJ
• Hur GY
• Shin SY
• Park HS

• KMID: 1717970
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2009.24.2.160

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.

Keyword

Anisakis simplex; Fish; Food allergy

MeSH Terms

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