title: Food allergy masquerading as foreign body obstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic reactions to peanut and tree nuts can present as upper airway obstruction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To increase awareness that food allergy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of upper airway obstruction in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report an allergic reaction to cashew that was initially misdiagnosed as foreign body aspiration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the presenting signs and symptoms of food allergy are limited to upper airway obstruction, they can be confused with foreign body aspiration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As peanuts and tree nuts are common causes of both food allergy and foreign body aspiration in children, both of these diagnoses should be considered in the differential diagnosis of airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. luyjs@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Anh Dai K
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gern
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D031021:Anacardium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology