Food allergy due to olive

Abstract

We report the case of a 28-year-old man who presented palatal itching and genaralized urticaria following ingestion of olive 3 years after being diagnosed with olive pollinosis. The patient did not have a history of food allergy or urticaria. The results of skin prick tests with aeroallergens including latex were positive for house dust mite and olive pollen. The results of prick tests and prick-to-prick tests for olive fruit were positive, as were those of specific immunoglobulin E tests to olive pollen and fruit. The results of prick tests to peach, pear, kiwi, melon, and nut were negative. Nasal provocation with olive pollen gave positive results. An open oral provocation test with olive oil did not cause symptoms. This case is unique in that the patient developed olive fruit allergy in the presence of olive pollinosis, and he did not experience allergic symptoms to fruits other than olive, thus enabling us to define a new pollen-food (olive-olive) syndrome.