Sensitization to Anisakis simplex: an unusual presentation.

It has recently been published patients suffering from urticaria or anaphylaxia induced by nematodes usually parasitizing fishs or cephalopode, in whom, Anisakis simplex (AK) sensitization prevalence was detected up to 37%. We tried out a prospective study to evaluate the presence of AK specific-IgE in an asthmatic population, comparing to other group of patients with urticaria. Complaints related to food ingestion were recorded in both, and dietetic measures were advised. Thirteen patients (13/66; 20%) showed AK specific IgE. Nine of them were asthmatics (p < 0.01), and only 4 suffered from urticaria. Four patients, three of them asthmatics, could link symptoms after fishs, cephalopode or, surprisingly, seafood intake, including epigastralgia, rhinorrhea, conjunctivitis, hives, and dyspnea. Atopia was not a consistent status, only five AK sensitized patients also did to common inhalants (all skin prick-test positive to house dust mites). Asthmatic AK-sensitized patients were older than non AK-sensitized asthmatics (46.23 vs 30.1; p < 0.05). The way of sensitization could be inhalative or through digestive mucosa parasitization by live larvae. Possibility that an AK allergen can play a role in adult asthma, should be considered specially in countries with high fish or seafood diet content.