The prevalence of food hypersensitivity in an unselected population of children and adults

TLDR

Food hypersensitivity has risen markedly over the past decade. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of food hypersensitivity to the most common allergenic foods in an unselected cohort of children and adults. Researchers assessed 1,744 participants (111 children <3 yr, 486 children 3 yr, 301 older children, 936 adults) using questionnaires, skin‑prick tests, histamine‑release tests, specific IgE, and oral challenges. Oral‑challenge confirmation revealed 16.6 % had possible food hypersensitivity, with 2.3 % of 3‑year‑olds, 1 % of older children, and 3.2 % of adults affected; hen’s egg and peanut were the most common allergens, codfish and shrimp affected 0.2–0.3 % of adults, and 32 % of pollen‑sensitized adults reacted to pollen‑related foods.

Abstract

A rising prevalence of food hypersensitivity (FHS) and severe allergic reactions to food has been reported the last decade. To estimate the prevalence of FHS to the most common allergenic foods in an unselected population of children and adults. We investigated a cohort of 111 children &lt;3 yr of age, 486 children 3 yr of age, 301 children older than 3 yr of age and 936 adults by questionnaire, skin prick test, histamine release test and specific immunoglobulin E followed by oral challenge to the most common allergenic foods. In total, 698 cases of possible FHS were recorded in 304 (16.6%) participants. The prevalence of FHS confirmed by oral challenge was 2.3% in the children 3 yr of age, 1% in children older than 3 yr of age and 3.2% in adults. The most common allergenic foods were hen's egg affecting 1.6% of the children 3 yr of age and peanut in 0.4% of the adults. Of the adults, 0.2% was allergic to codfish and 0.3% to shrimp, whereas no challenges with codfish and shrimp were positive in the children. The prevalence of clinical reactions to pollen‐related foods in pollen‐sensitized adults was estimated to 32%. This study demonstrates the prevalence of FHS confirmed by oral challenge to the most common allergenic foods in an unselected population of children and adults.