Anaphylaxis caused by Anisakis at the age of 8: case report

Abstract

Although several groups have reported cases of immediate allergy to anisakis in adults, reports in children are limited. Here, we report a case of anaphylaxis due to anisakis in a school-age child.

An 8-year-old boy experienced anaphylaxis symptoms 2 hours after ingesting squid sashimi and vinegared mackerel. His symptoms rapidly resolved after administration of intramuscular adrenaline. The patient was diagnosed with anisakis allergy, as his serum-specific IgE level for anisakis was 54.4 UA/mL; he was negative for allergies to other seafood that he ingested at that time.

In this case, the boy had ingested and touched raw fish since childhood. We speculate that it is possible that it was a factor by which the anisakis allergy developed at such an early age in this patient. Diagnosis of anisakis allergy is of great value because there are many reports of anaphylaxis and because anisakis may parasitize many types of fish and shellfish. Even in children, it is important to consider anisakis allergy when anaphylaxis occurs after ingesting seafood.