FOOD ALLERGY AND ASTHMA - BRONCHOSPASM FO LLOWING EATING SNAILS IN CHILDREN ALLERGIC TO ACARIS

Mention in the literature of a possible crossover reaction between aca ris and snails led the authors to assess the incidence of reactivity t o snails in a group of children with acaris allergy. A snail extract p rick-test was performed in 51 subjects chosen at random and among whom 34 (i.e. 67%) had positive reactions. Subsequently, 21 subjects, incl uding 15 prick-positive for acaris and snails and 6 for acaris only, u nderwent an open oral challenge test with 30 g of cooked snails: clini cal and functional monitoring at times 0, 20, 60, 180 and 240 minutes. Results obtained indicated the possibility of a crossover reaction be tween acaris and snails, 8 of the 15 subjects (53%) positive for acari s and for snails having developed marked asthma, indicated by a mean f all in FEV1 of 41% after the challenge test with this food, in compari son with the baseline value.