title: Parasympathetic nervous system involvement in food allergy: description of a paediatric case.
abstract: The latest research data emphasize the interaction between the nervous and the immune systems. It has been demonstrated that the central nervous system (CNS) can be involved secondarily due to blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption via pro-inflammatory cytokines released in allergy. More recently it was demonstrated that the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) could also be equally involved in models of peripheral inflammation such as food allergy; although this last clinical presentation has rarely been described. Herein, the authors report the case of a five-year-old Caucasian female who was admitted to our Pediatric Acute and Emergency Operative Unit for cyclic vomiting. Her vomiting, which was preceded by objective torque vertigo, headache and weakness, had been recurring with constant frequency every two months since she was 3 years old. After a complex diagnostic flow-chart, it was found that this spectrum of neurologic symptoms was due to a food allergy syndrome, which postulates some etiopathogenic hypotheses to explain the relationship between the two mentioned diseases.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Operative Unit and Acute and Emergency, Vittorio-Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitaliti
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Operative Unit and Acute and Emergency, Vittorio-Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.affiliation: Paediatric and Neonatal Operative Unit, Gravina Hospital, Caltagirone, Italy.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Giugno
authors.affiliation: Centre of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele Hospital, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vecchio
authors.affiliation: ENT Department G.F. Ingrassia, Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cocuzza
authors.affiliation: ENT Department G.F. Ingrassia, Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: ENT Department G.F. Ingrassia, Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maiolino
authors.affiliation: ENT Department G.F. Ingrassia, Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Pediatric Nephrology Operative Unit of La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lubrano
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Operative Unit and Acute and Emergency, Vittorio-Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Falsaperla
mesh_terms: D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002364:Caseins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D006261:Headache / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000276:immunology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000276:immunology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins