Red meat causing delayed anaphylactic airway edema: a case report

Authors

  • Aparna Das Department of ENT, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India
  • Saranya Thangavel Department of ENT, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical education and Research, Pondicherry, India http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6954-1364
  • Sauradeep Das Department of ENT, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical education and Research, Pondicherry, India
  • Sunil Kumar Saxena Department of ENT, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical education and Research, Pondicherry, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20212135

Keywords:

Angioedema, α-gal, Red meat, Dysphagia, Anaphylaxis

Abstract

The goals of emergency management of angioedema include prevention of spontaneous eruption, maintaining and securing the airway and to stop the progression of the disease. Laryngeal edema is one of the life-threatening complications of angioedema that can be managed by endotracheal intubation or emergency tracheostomy or cricothyrotomy. Recently, delayed onset food induced anaphylactic reactions are being recognised widely due to better clinical knowledge and technology that can substantiate the diagnosis. The classical finding of anaphylaxis to only proteins have been disproved and delayed onset food allergy (i.e.) 3-6 hours after ingestion of food has been attributed to specific carbohydrate moieties in glycolipids and glycoproteins such as Galactose-α-1,3-galactose found in red meat (beef, pork and lamb). Even though it is seen rarely in the Indian population, it should be a part of the diagnostic algorithm in order to prevent fatal complications. Hereby reporting 39 years old male with undiagnosed red meat allergy presented with features of foreign body sensation throat and laryngeal oedema and managed conservatively with steroids and nebulisation.

Author Biographies

Aparna Das, Department of ENT, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India

Senior Resident
Department of ENT
AIIMS
Jodhpur

Saranya Thangavel, Department of ENT, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical education and Research, Pondicherry, India

Senior Resident

Department of ENT

JIPMER

Pondicherry-605006

Sauradeep Das, Department of ENT, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical education and Research, Pondicherry, India

Junior Resident

Department of ENT

JIPMER

Pondicherry-605006

Sunil Kumar Saxena, Department of ENT, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical education and Research, Pondicherry, India

HOD & Professor

Department of ENT

JIPMER

Pondicherry-605006

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Published

2021-05-26

Issue

Section

Case Reports