Background
Flax is a plant that is widely cultivated and has multiple uses. The seed has been increasingly used in food, and the fibers are used in textiles. Oils have also been extracted from the seed for use as a laxative and in industrial preparations. Allergic reactions to flax seed ingestion as well as linseed oil (flaxseed oil) ingestion have been described in the literature in adults (1-5), but not in children.
Material and methods
We report four cases of flax seed allergy in children.
Results
See table 1
Table 1.
| Case | Age | Gender | Multiple food allergies? | Food containing flax seed: symptoms | Skin test to flax | Open challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1y5m | F | no | granola bar: urticaria, angioedema | 5mm | not done |
| 2 | 9y | M | yes | muffin: oral “tingling” | 4mm | oral pruritus, throat clearing |
| 3 | 5y | M | yes | bread: vomiting/urticaria (two episodes) | 7mm | not done |
| 4 | 8y | M | yes | fruit smoothie: angioedema of lips same fruit smoothie without flax seed before and since: no symptoms |
pending | pending |
Conclusions
Few cases of flax seed allergy have been described in the literature. As the use of flax seed in foods becomes more prevalent, this will likely become a more important cause of allergic reactions in the future.
References
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