Dill
Clinical Relevance
IgE-mediated reactions
Dill may uncommonly induce symptoms of food allergy in sensitized individuals.
Anaphylaxis to Dill has been described. A 40-year-old woman complained that she developed oral pruritus, tongue and throat swelling and tightness, generalized urticaria, and immediate vomiting and diarrhea following ingestion of foods cooked with Dill, and subsequently with inhalation of fumes of foods prepared with Dill. Her symptoms progressed with each exposure. Skin-specific IgE was detected to fresh Dill extract.
A 32-year-male reported episodes of periorbital oedema, generalized itching, rash and “chapped lips” after preparing and eating fresh Dill. Two episodes occurred approximately 12 hours after eating fresh grilled salmon garnished with freshly ground Dill. Dried Dill and Dill pickles did not affect him. Skin- and serum-specific IgE were positive.
Contact urticaria was reported by a 32-year-old housewife from handling Dill plants. Serum and skin IgE were positive.
A 43-year-old man developed occupational allergic contact dermatitis when handling Dill plants. Serum-specific IgE to Dill was detected. A patch test was positive.
Other reaction
Phytophotodermatitis has been reported.
Cross-Reactivity
An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus and other members of the Apiaceae family could be expected.
This has been demonstrated in a study of serum from a patient with an occupational allergy to spices: a closely related pattern of IgE binding to Coriander, Dill and Anise extract was observed. The results suggest that these botanically related plants contain common IgE-binding structures.
References
- Chiu AM, Zacharisen MC. Anaphylaxis to dill. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2000;84(5):559-60.
- Freeman GL. Allergy to fresh dill. Allergy. 1999;54(5):531-2.
- Monteseirín J, Pérez-Formoso JL, Hérnandez M, Sánchez-Hernández MC, Camacho MJ, Bonilla I, et al. Contact urticaria from dill. Contact dermatitis. 2003;48(5):275.
- Monteseirín J, Pérez-Formoso JL, Sánchez-Hernández MC, Hernández M, Camacho MJ, Bonilla I, et al. Occupational contact dermatitis to dill. Allergy. 2002;57(9):866-7.
- Egan CL, Sterling G. Phytophotodermatitis: a visit to Margaritaville. Cutis. 1993;51(1):41-2.
- L. Y. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala. Sweden. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB Uppsala Sweden. 1982.
- van Toorenenbergen AW, Huijskes-Heins MI, Leijnse B, Dieges PH. Immunoblot analysis of IgE-binding antigens in spices. International archives of allergy and applied immunology. 1988;86(1):117-20.