The hazards of kissing when you are food allergic - A survey on the occurrence of kiss-induced allergic reactions among 1139 patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity

NE Eriksson, C Moller, Sonja Werner, J Magnusson, U Bengtsson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: According to a few case reports, kissing can induce symptoms due to food allergy. Objective: We wanted to investigate the occurrence of kiss-induced allergic symptoms and other social inconveniences among patients with self-reported food hypersensitivity. Methods: A questionnaire was answered by 1139 patients (1-84 years old, mean age 29 years, 393 males and 746 females) who considered themselves to be food allergic. Results: 12% of the patients experienced allergic symptoms when in close contact with (e.g., kissing) a person who had eaten a nontolerated food prior to the contact. Some case histories suggested that the symptoms only appeared if the food intake had occurred immediately before the kiss. In addition, the questionnaires showed that 55% had problems in daily life finding tolerable food, 44% were afraid of a severe reaction from eating nontolerated food, 13% could experience symptoms when sitting beside a person who was eating such a food, and 17% could experience symptoms in the kitchen when someone else was preparing such food. Conclusions: What other people eat can influence the quality of life of food-allergic patients.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-154
JournalJournal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology
Volume13
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Respiratory Medicine and Allergy

Free keywords

  • indirect contacts
  • kissing
  • food hypersensitivity
  • social problems
  • allergy
  • food allergy

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