Oral food challenges: result of a 16-year experience at a major teaching hospital in Thailand
10.5415/apallergy.2018.8.e21
- Author:
Wichaya SRISUWATCHARI
1
;
Pakit VICHYANOND
Author Information
1. Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. pakit.vic@mahidol.ac.th
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Food allergy;
Child;
Shrimp;
Wheat;
Food challenge;
Cow milk
- MeSH:
Asia;
Child;
Diagnosis;
Epidemiology;
Food Hypersensitivity;
Hospitals, Teaching;
Humans;
Hypersensitivity;
Immunoglobulin E;
Medical Records;
Milk;
Ovum;
Prevalence;
Retrospective Studies;
Shellfish;
Skin;
Thailand;
Triticum;
Wheat Hypersensitivity
- From:
Asia Pacific Allergy
2018;8(2):e21-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Prevalence of food allergy is increasing all over the world including in Asia. Diagnosis of food allergy in Asia is usually made after family complaints or by elimination and/or reintroduction foods. This could lead to an inaccurate diagnosis and to incorrect information on epidemiology of food allergy. We, herein, reported results of a 16-year experience (1996–2012) of oral food challenge (OFC) performed in pediatric patients at a major teaching hospital in Thailand. OBJECTIVE: The major objectives of this report are to review types of foods selected for oral challenges, frequency of positive/negative challenges to these foods and the clinical reactions during challenges among these children. METHODS: Medical records of 206 children underwent OFC between 1996 and 2012 for various indications at the Allergy clinic of Pediatric Department, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University (age range, 4 months to 17 years) were retrospectively reviewed. Data including clinical data, skin prick test results and specific IgE levels were analyzed with respect to challenge results (positive/negative). During the period of the study, 2 separate investigations on shrimp allergy and wheat allergy were conducted. RESULTS: Sixty of 206 children (29%) had positive OFC, whereas 84 out of 306 OFC (27.5%) were positive. The most common food giving positive challenges in this study was shrimp (40%). Among children less than 3 years of age, the most common food with positive challenge was wheat (70%) whereas among children 3 years of age or older, shellfish was the most common food (42%). Cutaneous reactions were the most common reactions observed. CONCLUSION: Only 1 of 3 of children underwent OFC in this study had positive challenges. Shrimp was the most common food causing challenge in this study especially among children older than 3 year of age. Wheat has become another leading food besides cow's milk and egg in causing positive OFC in younger children in Thailand.
