Allergy to shiitake mushroom.

Most allergic symptoms caused by mushrooms have been described to occur in the production and preparation of shiitake mushrooms. Although it is nowadays the second most commonly produced edible mushroom in the world, there are a few reports of allergy caused by this mushroom. A new rapid method to cultivate mushrooms used in Finland since 1983 will probably cause more risks of development of respiratory symptoms because of the high concentration of spores indoors. Protein contact dermatitis from mushrooms can be expected in food handlers.