Macadamia Nut-Induced Anaphylactic Shock Requiring Repeated Intramuscular Adrenaline Administration in a Three-Year-Old Girl

Abstract

Cases of macadamia nut-induced anaphylactic shock have been rarely reported. We report the case of a three-year-old girl with anaphylactic shock who presented with generalized erythema two hours after ingesting macadamia nuts. She required two doses of intramuscular adrenaline for the treatment of anaphylactic shock. The diagnosis of macadamia nut allergy was confirmed by a prick-by-prick skin test using roasted and raw macadamia nut paste extracts and elevated serum macadamia nut-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Appropriately using a prick-by-prick test may contribute to accurately diagnosing macadamia nut allergy, thus preventing the unnecessary avoidance of other nuts. Considering the potential for severe shock induced by macadamia nut allergy, vigilant monitoring of blood pressure changes is imperative in children presenting with immediate-type allergic reactions, such as vomiting and skin symptoms, following macadamia nut ingestion.