2 cases of urticaria following fruit ingestion, with cross‐sensitivity to latex

Case Reports Case no. 1. A 28-year-old woman presented with acute urticaria. She had had 3 previous attacks of facial angioedema. She and her family had no history of atopy. In hospital, although on an oral antihistamine, she developed further urticaria associated with bronchospasm. Urticaria appeared 2 h after a hospital meal that included a banana. The patient remembered 2 previous attacks following banana ingestion. A provocation test was done: in the morning, on an empty stomach, the patient ate a banana. 30 min later, she felt prickling of the tongue and palate. I h later, she complained of abdominal pain, breathing difficulties and hand prickling. Clinical examination revealed general urticaria and facial edema. A corticosteroid injection stopped the symptoms. Cross-sensitivity to latex was investigated (Table I). She had no history of latex allergy. She had never been operated upon and her husband did not use condoms. A use test with a latex surgical glove was performed. 10 min later, she developed contact urticaria on the hand and the forearm (Fig. 1). A few months later, she developed urticaria after avocado ingestion. Scratch tests were done with fresh avocado. 20 min later, a 5-mm wheal appeared. The tests were negative in 2 control subjects. Cross-sensitivity to melon was also investigated, although she had no history of allergy. Scratch tests were performed with fresh melon. A 3-mm wheal appeared on the forearm after 20 min. Control scratch tests were negative in 2 subjects. A control saline test was negative in our patient.