Allergenic cross-reactivity between pellitory and mulberry: case report

Background In Barletta, a city of Puglia in southern Italy, between May and June 2009, at the ‘Dimiccoli’ Hospital, Emergency Department, 189 people out of 4440 (about 4%) have been found positive to disturbances of allergic type. On May 25th a hot day (max. temperature: 28°C) immediately after a thunderstorm, 15 patients out of 189, rushed to the above mentioned Hospital. Among those 15 patients, there was a 51 years old woman who complained of oculo-rhinitis, cough, chest tightness after being outside on her balcony once it stopped raining. Furthermore she felt face edema and worsening of respiratory symptoms after about 30 minutes from eating few mulberries. Since the clinical outcome was that of “anaphylaxis”, the woman was treated with cortisone and antihistamines injection, with successful feedback.