Shellfish/crustacean oral allergy syndrome among national service pre-enlistees in Singapore
10.5415/apallergy.2018.8.e18
- Author:
Bernard Yu Hor THONG
1
;
Shalini ARULANANDAM
;
Sze Chin TAN
;
Teck Choon TAN
;
Grace Yin Lai CHAN
;
Justina Wei Lyn TAN
;
Mark Chong Wei YEOW
;
Chwee Ying TANG
;
Jinfeng HOU
;
Khai Pang LEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433. bernard_thong@ttsh.com.sg
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Anaphylaxis;
Hypersensitivity;
Shellfish
- MeSH:
Anaphylaxis;
Arachis;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Asthma;
Eczema;
Exanthema;
Food Hypersensitivity;
Humans;
Hypersensitivity;
Lip;
Male;
Mass Screening;
Military Personnel;
Ovum;
Pharynx;
Referral and Consultation;
Retrospective Studies;
Rhinitis, Allergic;
Shellfish;
Singapore;
Skin;
Specialization
- From:
Asia Pacific Allergy
2018;8(2):e18-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: All Singaporean males undergo medical screening prior to compulsory military service. A history of possible food allergy may require referral to a specialist Allergy clinic to ensure that special dietary needs can be taken into account during field training and deployment. OBJECTIVE: To study the pattern of food allergy among pre-enlistees who were referred to a specialist allergy clinic to work up suspected food allergy. METHODS: Retrospective study of all pre-enlistees registered in the Clinical Immunology/Allergy New Case Registry referred to the Allergy Clinic from 1 August 2015 to 31 May 2016 for suspected food allergy. RESULTS: One hundred twenty pre-enlistees reporting food allergy symptoms other than rash alone were referred to the Allergy Clinic during the study period. Of these, 77 (64.2%) had food allergy. Among those with food allergy, mean age was 19.1 ± 1.5 years. They comprised predominantly Chinese (66.2%) and Malays (20.8%). The most commonly reported foods were shellfish/crustaceans (78%), peanut (15.6%), and egg (6.5%). Self-limiting oral allergy syndrome, OAS (itchy lips and throat with/without lip angioedema) was the most common manifestation (n = 33, 42.9%) followed by anaphylaxis (n = 23, 29.9%). Majority of OAS was from shellfish/crustacean (90.6%); of which shrimp (30.3%), crab (15.2%), and lobster (3.0%) were the most common. Mild childhood asthma (69.7%), allergic rhinitis (6.3%), and eczema (6.1%) were the most common atopic conditions among individuals with shellfish/crustacean OAS. This pattern was similar for shellfish/crustacean anaphylaxis. Skin prick tests were most commonly positive for shrimp (OAS 87.1% vs. anaphylaxis 100%), crab (OAS 95.8% vs. 90.9%), and lobster (OAS 91.7% vs. 63.6%). CONCLUSION: OAS to shellfish/crustaceans was more common than anaphylaxis among this study population of young males referred for food allergy symptoms other than rash alone.
