title: A 71-year-old man with anaphylaxis after eating grits.
abstract: The allergist is frequently called on to evaluate patients after episodes of anaphylaxis to determine the cause and implement preventive measures that will reduce the patient's risk from future episodes. The etiology of anaphylaxis can be the result of numerous causes that may go undiagnosed  if a thorough evaluation is not performed. We present a 71-year-old man with no history of food allergy or atopy who presented to the emergency room and then our allergy clinic for evaluation after suffering anaphylaxis after a meal of grits and shrimp. The underlying diagnosis, which was  subsequently determined, requires a high index of suspicion and should be included in the differential diagnosis of any patient presenting with unexplained anaphylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-1355, USA. jp7ac@virignia.edu
authors.forename: Jonathon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Posthumus
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borish
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004435:Eating; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000469:parasitology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005506:Food Contamination; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D004837:Epinephrine