Similar prevalence, different spectrum: IgE-mediated food allergy among Turkish adolescents
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Date
2013
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Abstract
Background: Scarcity of reliable data on food allergy prevalence exists in Turkey. We aimed to assess reported and confirmed IgE-mediated food allergy prevalence, and define the spectrum of allergenic food. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the ISAAC Phase II study population for food allergy. Participants that reported experiencing food allergy symptom in the last year and/or were skin prick test positive for a predefined list of food allergens, were interviewed via telephone, and those considered as having food allergy were invited to undergo clinical investigation, including challenge tests. Results: A total of 6963 questionnaires were available. Parental reported food allergy prevalence and skin prick sensitisation rate were 20.2. ±. 0.9% and 5.9. ±. 0.6%. According to the above-defined criteria, 1162 children (symptom positive n=909, skin prick test positive n=301, both positive n=48) were selected and 813 (70.0%) were interviewed via telephone. Out of 152 adolescents reporting a current complaint, 87 accepted clinical investigation. There were 12 food allergies diagnosed in nine adolescents, with food allergy prevalence of 0.16. ±. 0.11%. The most common foods involved in allergic reactions were walnut (n=3) and beef meat (n=2), followed by hen's egg (n=1), peanut (n=1), spinach (n=1), kiwi (n=1), cheese (n=1), hazelnut (n=1) and peach (n=1). Conclusions: While parental reported food allergy prevalence was within the range reported previously, confirmed IgE-mediated food allergy prevalence among adolescents was at least 0.16%, and the spectrum of foods involved in allergy differed from Western countries, implying environmental factors may play a role. © 2012 SEICAP.
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Adolescent , Allergens , Animals , Cattle , Child , Epitopes , Female , Food Hypersensitivity , Humans , Immunoglobulin E , Juglans , Male , Meat , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Questionnaires , Skin Tests , Turkey , Child , Food allergy , Oral food challenge , Prevalence , Skin prick test , adrenalin , food allergen , immunoglobulin E , almond , anaphylaxis , article , beef , black pepper , blackberry , cacao , cheese , child , clinical feature , cross-sectional study , cucumber , egg , female , fish , food allergy , hazelnut , human , kiwifruit , major clinical study , male , peach , peanut , phase 2 clinical trial (topic) , prick test , prospective study , provocation test , questionnaire , raspberry , school child , skin sensitization , spinach , sweet pepper , telephone interview , tomato , Turkey (republic) , walnut