Abstract
To investigate the natural history of FA, we have followed-up 88 children affected with FA (60 males, 28 females, median age at the onset of FA 5 mos). All children had positive challenge tests, skin tests, and RAST to the offending food(s) (OF). The challenge tests showed that the most common OF were cow's milk, egg, wheat, and fish. Atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, angioedema, urticaria, and gastrointestinal symptoms were most frequently exhibited. Fish and nuts frequently triggered severe, immediate reactions such as angioedema, while egg ingestion was frequently associated with AD (p < 0.001). At the last follow-up (median age 9 yrs) the challenge tests showed that only 28% of children tolerated the OF, and 56% of them developed other allergies (p < 0.05). Angioedema and AD, alone or variously combined, were associated with persisting allergy (100, 73, and 85% respectively) (p<0.05). In conclusion our data show that the outcome of FA is not so favourable as generally reported. Different selection criteria of the patients can be responsible of the controversial results so far reported. Therefore the diagnosis of FA should be better defined, in order to avoid conflicting results.
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Businco, L., Vozzo, S., Trogolo, E. et al. NATURAL HISTORY OF FOOD ALLERGY (FA) IN CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 22, 242 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00174
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00174