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Case Reports
. 2015 Sep 3:9:186.
doi: 10.1186/s13256-015-0669-6.

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis to chickpea in a 17-year-old female: a case report

Hannah Roberts  1   2 , Moshe Ben-Shoshan  3   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis to chickpea in a 17-year-old female: a case report

Hannah Roberts et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Introduction: Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a subtype of anaphylaxis and, although rare, it is an important condition to be familiar with as it can ultimately lead to death.

Case presentation: We present a case of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis in a 17-year-old white girl due to chickpea. She had a history of anaphylaxis after eating crackers and hummus before exercising. Skin prick testing and serum-specific immunoglobulin E level confirmed chickpea to be the causative allergen.

Conclusions: This case demonstrates the challenge in identifying specific causative food allergens when foods are eaten in combination, when the food is processed, and when cross-reactivity is possible. These challenges add complexity to a condition that is already rare and unfamiliar to some health care providers. We hope that this case will serve as an important reminder that although rare, food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis exists and making a diagnosis can lead to life-saving preventative strategies. As legumes are not a common food associated with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, this will add to our current knowledge base in the field of allergy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Results of skin prick testing. From top, hummus (H) 7×15mm (wheal/erythema), cracker (B) negative, soy (S) 4×6mm, chickpea (CP) 7×15mm, and lastly histamine positive control (+) 5×10mm
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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