Severe allergy to chicken meat.

INTRODUCTION

While allergic reactions to poultry products in the form of feathers and eggs are common, allergic reactions to chicken meat are rare. Despite the popularity of chicken in today's healthy diet, severe reactions after ingesting chicken meat are rarely described. This report describes a patient who developed chicken meat anaphylaxis without experiencing allergy to eggs or feathers.

METHODS

A carefully obtained history from a 41-year-old male suggested chicken meat as the cause of his symptoms. He developed abdominal cramping, generalized urticaria, and chest tightness after ingestion of chicken meat. Percutaneous allergy skin testing with commercial chicken and turkey extract and freshly cooked chicken utilizing the prick-prick test was performed.

RESULTS

Skin testing was positive with all extracts of chicken and turkey in the patient, and negative in 4 healthy adult controls. Skin tests with feather and egg extract were negative.

CONCLUSION

This is the third report of severe allergy to chicken meat in the absence of egg allergy. Physicians should be aware of the presence of chicken allergy without concomitant feather or egg allergy, particularly in adults.