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Prevalence of food allergies in young adults and their relationship to asthma, nasal allergies, and eczema
Citation
Woods, RK and Thein, F and Raven, J and Walters, EH and Abramson, M, Prevalence of food allergies in young adults and their relationship to asthma, nasal allergies, and eczema, Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 88, (2) pp. 183-189. ISSN 1081-1206 (2002) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61994-1
Abstract
Background: The true prevalence of food allergy in adults is generally thought to be uncommon. It is unknown whether there are any relationships between food allergy and atopic diseases. Objective: To determine the prevalence of probable immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated food allergy to peanut, shrimp, cow's milk, wheat, and egg as defined by a positive skin prick test result and relevant clinical history to the same food, and to explore the relationship with atopic diseases. Methods: Cross-sectional epidemiologic study. One thousand one hundred forty-one randomly selected young adults (aged 20 to 45 years) underwent skin prick testing to five common food allergens (cow's milk, peanut, egg white, shrimp, and wheat), completed a detailed questionnaire, including validated items on respiratory symptoms, history of asthma and other allergic conditions, as well as undergoing lung function testing. Results: Just over one percent (1.3%, n = 15) had probable IgE-mediated food allergy. The prevalence of probable IgE food allergy was: <0.27% for wheat, 0.09% (95% confidence interval = 0.0 to 0.49%) each for cow's milk and egg, 0.53% (0.21 to 1.09%) for shrimp, and 0.61% (0.25 to 1.26%) for peanut. Those with probable IgE peanut and shrimp allergy were significantly more likely to have current asthma and doctor-diagnosed asthma. Wheeze and history of eczema were also associated with peanut allergy, whereas nasal allergies were associated with shrimp allergy. Conclusions: The prevalence of probable IgE-mediated food reactions is rare in young adults. Some positive associations between probable IgE-mediated food allergy and allergic diseases were found, but larger study numbers are required to confirm these results.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology |
| Research Field: | Respiratory Diseases |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) |
| Objective Field: | Respiratory System and Diseases (incl. Asthma) |
| UTAS Author: | Walters, EH (Professor Haydn Walters) |
| ID Code: | 24373 |
| Year Published: | 2002 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 78 |
| Deposited By: | Medicine |
| Deposited On: | 2002-08-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2003-03-18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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