Recurrent Episodes of Anaphylaxis due to an Erythritol Sweetener in Ice Cream : A Case Report

Abstract

　A 6-year-old Japanese girl was referred to our department with recurrent episodes of anaphylaxis after ingesting ice cream sweetened with erythritol. We suspected an allergy to erythritol. The results of a skin prick test were negative, but an intradermal skin test and an oral food challenge test were positive, confirming an erythritol allergy. The skin prick test is often false-negative in patients with an erythritol allergy. Furthermore, erythritol is classified as a food, and not as a food additive. Information about erythritol is sometimes omitted when the content is low. Thus, erythritol can be overlooked as an allergen, but should be considered when patients present with recurrent episodes of unexplained anaphylaxis.