Food hypersensitivity by inhalation

Most of the information and focus regarding food hypersensitivity reactions relates to oral ingestio...

Most of the information and focus regarding food hypersensitivity reactions relates to oral ingestion, however, other important causes include reactions due to inhalation and skin contact. Food allergy caused by non-ingestant routes is probably under-recognised and under-reported. This review provides a summary of the relevant studies and selected case reports on food allergy by inhalation.

Patients who are allergic to food by ingestion may react to the same food by inhalation. The inhaled quantity can be substantial, particularly in certain occupational settings, or very trivial as by mere smelling. Asthma is a strong predisposing factor. In the majority of patients, food particle inhalation induces respiratory symptoms that can be nasal (rhinorrhoea, sneezing, nasal congestion), ocular (tearing, redness, irritation), or lower respiratory (cough, wheeze). In addition, skin manifestations may occur and more rarely anaphylaxis. Whereas food inhalation is commonly recognied as symptom-provoking in patients who have already developed food allergy, it can cause de novo sensitisation, particularly from chronic exposure in occupational settings.

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