Systemic Anaphylaxis after Eating Storage-Mite-Contaminated Food

Abstract

We describe 2 cases in whom systemic anaphylaxis developed shortly after they had eaten food contaminated by a storage mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae. We were able to demonstrate that these cases were sensitive to the storage mites but not to food allergens, leading us to conclude that the cases' anaphylactic episodes were the result of ingestion of the storage mites. This is the first report of the ingestion of storage mites causing systemic anaphylaxis in sensitive persons.