Pork–cat syndrome

Pork–cat syndrome
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Allergic reactions after eating pork
Complications	Anaphylaxis
Onset	After sensitization to cat allergens
Duration
Types
Causes	Cross-reactivity between cat albumin and pork albumin
Risks	Cat ownership, exposure to cats
Diagnosis	Skin prick test, specific IgE testing
Differential diagnosis	Alpha-gal allergy, pork allergy
Prevention	Avoidance of pork and cat allergens
Treatment	Antihistamines, epinephrine for severe reactions
Medication
Prognosis
Frequency	Rare
Deaths

Pork–cat syndrome is a rare type of allergy that is characterized by an allergic reaction to pork, often following the consumption of undercooked or raw pork. This condition is associated with a pre-existing sensitivity to cat dander.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Pork–cat syndrome can vary from person to person, but they typically include urticaria (hives), angioedema (swelling), rhinitis (runny nose), asthma, and anaphylaxis. These symptoms usually occur within a few minutes to a few hours after consuming pork.

Causes

Pork–cat syndrome is caused by an allergic reaction to a specific protein found in pork called albumin. People with this syndrome have a pre-existing allergy to cat dander, which contains a similar protein. When they consume pork, their immune system mistakenly identifies the pork albumin as the cat dander protein and triggers an allergic reaction.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of Pork–cat syndrome is typically made based on the patient's history of allergic reactions after consuming pork and a positive skin prick test or blood test for pork and cat dander allergies.

Treatment

The primary treatment for Pork–cat syndrome is avoidance of pork. In cases where an allergic reaction occurs, treatment may include antihistamines, corticosteroids, and in severe cases, epinephrine.

See also

• Food allergy
• Cat allergy
• Anaphylaxis

References

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