We evaluated the clinical characteristics Sound in 29 children who sho
wed allergic symptoms after direct and/or indirect contact with fish,
from 197 children diagnosed with IgE-mediated fish hypersensitivity. A
llergic reactions to fish through ingestion began in most patients (79
%) within the first 24 months of rife. All the patients showed cutaneo
us symptoms, either alone or associated with other clinical manifestat
ions. Whiff and hake were the species more frequently implicated ill e
liciting clinical manifestations upon ingestion. After diagnosis, all
patients were placed on a strict fish avoidance diet. During this peri
od of avoidance, 29 patients reported allergic reactions (mean age 5 y
ears, 6 months; SD 4 years, 2 months) after incidental skin contact wi
th fish. Clinical manifestations after touching fish were only curtane
ous in 28 of the 29 studied patients. One showed local urticaria with
wheezing. The majority reported two or more episodes. Incidental skin
contact with fish could play an important role in accidental encounter
s with fish particles in children on a fish avoidance diet for fish Ig
E-mediated hypersensitivity. Such exposures could result in immunologi
c immediate contact reactions and in some cases could lend to systemic
reactions (contact urticaria syndrome).