Oral mite anaphylaxis (OMA), also known as pancake syndrome, is a
disease in which a person gets symptoms after eating food contaminated with particular
mites. The disease name comes from reports of people becoming ill after eating
pancakes made from contaminated wheat or corn (maize) flour.
Symptoms and signs
The symptoms are allergic symptoms, especially trouble breathing, swelling of the face and throat, runny nose, cough, difficulty swallowing, and wheals.
Anaphylaxis can occur during exposure to NSAID drugs or exercise in people exposed to the mites.
Cause
Dust mites
House dust mites (HDM, or simply dust mites) are various species of acariform mites belonging to the family Pyroglyphidae that are found in association with dust in dwellings. They are known for causing allergies.
Biology
Species
The current ...
are microscopic arachnids that produce very
powerful allergens. If dust mites get into the food, then anyone eating the food is eating the allergens and may have an allergic reaction against them. The specific mites suspected as causing the condition are ''
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus'', ''
Blomia tropicalis Blomia may refer to:
* '' Blomia (mite)'', a genus of mites in the family Echimyopodidae
* '' Blomia (plant)'', a genus of flowering plants in the family Sapindaceae
{{Genus disambiguation ...
'', and ''
Suidasia pontifica
''Suidasia'' is a genus of mites in the family Suidasiidae and clade Astigmatina.
Description
The body of ''Suidasia'' mites has various patterns. If small rounded protuberances are present, these are coalescent and at least some are unequal. ...
'' (Suidasia medanensis).
The latter two are the most likely to have caused the harmful effects, and they live in tropical and subtropical environments.
Because the condition is triggered by eating pancakes and other cooked food, scientists expect that this means that the allergen can withstand the heat of cooking.
Prevention
Storing flour at low temperature, such as in a freezer, could prevent contamination or kill existing mites in the flour.
References
Further reading
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Food allergies
Acari and humans
Syndromes