Vietnamese woman suffers severe allergic shock after eating ant eggs

Doctors at Vietnam-Sweden Uong Bi Hospital diagnosed her with grade II anaphylaxis and immediately administered emergency treatment.

Hospital officials said this was one of about 10 cases of food-related anaphylaxis admitted since early March.

The patient experienced abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting shortly after consuming the dish. Thanks to timely intervention, her condition stabilized.

Doan Thi Thuy Hong, head of the hospital’s emergency department, explained that anaphylaxis is an acute allergic reaction that can occur suddenly and progress unpredictably.

Foods such as seafood, peanuts, milk, and insects including ant eggs are known triggers.

Even people with no prior allergy history can develop severe reactions.

In recent years, ant egg dishes have gained popularity as a seasonal delicacy in Vietnam’s northern mountainous region.

The specialty, commonly prepared into cakes, stir-fried dishes, and sticky rice, typically appears during a short seasonal period around the third lunar month.

While ant eggs are rich in protein, amino acids, and healthy fats, they pose a high allergy risk.

Nguyen Tien Thanh of the Vietnam Dermatology Association told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that ant eggs are typically harvested from black spiny ants in rocky crevices or tree hollows.

He explained that allergic reactions are often linked to the immune system’s sensitivity to proteins in the eggs or residual ant secretions.

Poor hygiene during preparation can also increase risks.

Symptoms range from mild, such as rashes, itching, tingling in the mouth, sneezing, runny nose, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea, to severe, including swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, dizziness, rapid blood pressure drop, and loss of consciousness.

Thanh advised against giving ant egg dishes to children, pregnant women, or those with weak immune systems.

First-time consumers should try only small amounts.

If symptoms occur, stop eating immediately, drink warm water, rest, and monitor closely. Severe cases with breathing difficulties or fainting require urgent hospital care.