Prevalence of challenge-proven IgE-mediated food allergy increasing in Australian infants

January 01, 0001

Prevalence of challenge-proven IgE-mediated food allergy increasing in Australian infants

Several indicators suggest that food allergy in infants is common and possibly increasing. Few studies have used oral food challenge to measure this phenomenon at the population level. The aim of this study by researchers from Australia was to measure the prevalence of common IgE- mediated childhood food allergies in a population-based sample of 12-month-old infants by using predetermined food challenge criteria to measure outcomes. A sampling frame was used to select recruitment areas to attain a representative population base. Recruitment occurred at childhood immunization sessions in Melbourne, Australia. Infants underwent skin prick testing, and those with any sensitization (wheal size greater than or equal to 1 mm) to 1 or more foods (raw egg, peanut, sesame, shellfish, or cow's milk) were invited to attend an allergy research clinic. Those who registered a wheal size greater than or equal to 1 mm to raw egg, peanut, or sesame underwent oral food challenge.

Amongst 2848 infants (73% participation rate), the prevalence of any sensitization to peanut was 8.9%; raw egg white, 16.5%; sesame, 2.5%; cow's milk, 5.6%; and shellfish, 0.9%. The prevalence of challenge-proven peanut allergy was 3.0%; raw egg allergy, 8.9%; and sesame allergy, 0.8%. Oral food challenges to cow's milk and shellfish were not performed. Of those with raw egg allergy, 80.3% could tolerate baked egg.

The researchers concluded: "More than 10% of 1- year-old infants had challenge-proven IgE-mediated food allergy to one of the common allergenic foods of infancy. The high prevalence of allergic disease in Australia requires further investigation and may be related to modifiable environmental factors."

We need to know how much of this translates into problems in the community and for what period of life.

For the full abstract, click here.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology March 2011 127(3):668-676 © 2011 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Published by Mosby, Inc.
Prevalence of challenge-proven IgE-mediated food allergy using population-based sampling and predetermined challenge criteria in infants. Nicholas J. Osborne, Jennifer J. Koplin, Pamela E. Martin et al. Correspondence to Katrina Allen: [email protected]

Category: B. Blood/Blood Forming Organs/Immune Mechanisms. Keywords: food allergy, anaphylaxis, infant, peanut, egg, sesame, cow's milk, skin prick testing, population, oral food challenge, eczema, prevalence study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 24 June 2011

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