Oral mite anaphylaxis
Oral mite anaphylaxis (OMA), also known as pancake syndrome, is a disease in which a person gets symptoms after eating food contaminated with particular mites. The disease name comes from reports of people becoming ill after eating pancakes made from contaminated wheat or corn (maize) flour.[1]
Cause
Dust mites are microscopic insects that produce very powerful allergens. If dust mites get into the food, then anyone eating the food is eating the allergens and may have an allergic reaction against them. The specific mites suspected as causing the condition are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Blomia tropicalis, and Suidasia pontifica (Suidasia medanensis).[2] The latter two are the most likely to have caused the harmful effects, and they live in tropical and subtropical environments.[2]
Because the disease is transmitted by pancakes and other cooked food, scientists expect that this means that the allergen can withstand the heat of cooking.[3]
Symptoms
The symptoms are allergic symptoms, especially trouble breathing, swelling of the face and throat, runny nose, cough, difficulty swallowing, and wheals.[1] Anaphylaxis can occur during exposure to NSAID drugs or exercise to those exposed to the mites.[2][3]
Prevention
Storing flour at low temperature, such as in a freezer, could prevent contamination or kill existing mites in the flour.[3]
Further reading
- Mangodt, EA; Van Gasse, AL; Bridts, CH; Sabato, V; Ebo, DG (2015). "Simultaneous oral mite anaphylaxis (pancake syndrome) in a father and daughter and a review of the literature". Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology. 25 (1): 75–6. PMID 25898706.
- Sánchez-Borges, Mario; Capriles-Hulett, Arnaldo; Caballero-Fonseca, Fernan (2008). "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PANCAKE SYNDROME". Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 101 (2): 221. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60215-3. ISSN 1081-1206.
- Sánchez-Borges, M; Capriles-Hulett, A; Caballero-Fonesca, F (May 2006). "Oral mite anaphylaxis (pancake syndrome) also observed in children". Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 96 (5): 755–6. doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)61079-4. PMID 16729794.
- Hashizume, H.; Umayahara, T.; Kawakami, Y. (January 2014). "Pancake syndrome induced by ingestion of tempura". British Journal of Dermatology. 170 (1): 213–214. doi:10.1111/bjd.12597.
References
- Sánchez-Borges, Mario; Fernandez-Caldas, Enrique (August 2015). "Hidden allergens and oral mite anaphylaxis: the pancake syndrome revisited". Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 15 (4): 337–343. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000175. ISSN 1473-6322. PMID 26110684.
- Barrera, OM; Murgas, IL; Bermúdez, S; Miranda, RJ (June 2015). "[Oral anaphylaxis by ingestion of mite contaminated food in Panama City, 2011-2014]". Revista Alergia Mexico. 62 (2): 112–7. PMID 25958374.
- Sánchez-Borges, M; Suárez-Chacon, R; Capriles-Hulett, A; Caballero-Fonseca, F; Iraola, V; Fernández-Caldas, E (May 2009). "Pancake syndrome (oral mite anaphylaxis)". The World Allergy Organization Journal. 2 (5): 91–6. doi:10.1186/1939-4551-2-5-91. PMC 3651046. PMID 23283016.