title: Spice allergy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a review on spice allergy and its implementation in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed searches were performed using spice allergy as the keyword for original and review articles. Selected references were also procured from the reviewed articles' references list.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were selected based on their relevance to the topic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spices are available in a large variety and are widely used, often as blends. Spice allergy seems to be rare, reportedly affecting between 4 and 13 of 10,000 adults and occurring more often in women because of cosmetic use. No figures were available on children. Most spice allergens are degraded by digestion; therefore, IgE sensitization is mostly through inhalation of cross-reacting pollens, particularly mugwort and birch. The symptoms are more likely to be respiratory when exposure is by inhalation and cutaneous if by contact. Studies on skin testing and specific IgE assays are limited and showed low reliability. The diagnosis primarily depends on a good history taking and confirmation with oral challenge. The common use of spice blends makes identifying the particular offending component difficult, particularly because their components are inconsistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spices are widely used and contain multiple allergens, yet spice allergy is probably markedly underdiagnosed. There is a need for reliable skin testing extracts and serum specific IgE assays. Currently, the diagnosis depends on a good history taking and well-designed titrated challenge testing. Until immunotherapy becomes developed, treatment is strict avoidance, which may be difficult because of incomplete or vague labeling.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Section, Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sami L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bahna
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019306:Artemisia / Q000276:immunology; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D017365:Spices / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E