Induction of Oral Tolerance in a Case of Severe Allergy to Coconut

• Published in: Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 380 - 381
• Main Authors: Hernández Santana, G L, Rodríguez Plata, E, González Colino, C E, Martínez Tadeo, J A, Bartolomé, B, García Robaina, J C, Pérez Rodríguez, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Esmon Publicidad 01-01-2019
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Allergens - administration & dosage; Allergens - immunology; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Cocos - adverse effects; Desensitization, Immunologic; Dyspnea; Epinephrine; Female; Food Hypersensitivity - diagnosis; Food Hypersensitivity - etiology; Food Hypersensitivity - therapy; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunotherapy; Middle Aged; Pruritus; Respiration; Rhinoconjunctivitis; Severity of Illness Index; Therapeutics; Oral tolerance induction; Allergy; Coconut
• ISSN: 1018-9068; 1698-0808
• DOI: 10.18176/jiaci.0405

A case study of a 47-year-old Thai woman who developed allergies after eating coconut. Her medical history was severe allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and sensitization to house dust mite that were treated with specific immunotherapy. The patient reported her first coconut allergy episode 4 years earlier. She presented with dysphonia, dyspnea, and palmoplantar pruritus immediately after eating grated coconut and subsequently reduced her intake of coconut, albeit not entirely. She occasionally experienced oropharyngeal pruritus after eating small amounts of coconut-containing foods, until she experienced a second episode of anaphylaxis with coconut milk curry and was referred to our unit. The patient was diagnosed with coconut allergy and prescribed a strict avoidance diet and autoinjectable adrenaline.