allergy
Allergenicity of common foods restricted in respiratory allergy.

Sharman J, Kumar L, Singh S.

Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Sharman-jay yahoo.com

Although hypersensitivity to foods is often linked to exacerbations of symptoms of respiratory allergy, no such information is available regarding the foods traditionally considered to play a probable etiological role in respiratory allergy in India, which are in fact quite different from the ones implicated in the West. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether the practice of withholding certain common foods by parents and practitioners of indigenous systems of medicine (i.e. Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine) in children suffering from respiratory allergy had any scientific basis or explanation as judged by modern techniques of investigation. Skin prick tests were performed on 64 children with symptoms pertaining to respiratory allergy (32 each in study and control group) using crude antigenic food extracts. Oral food challenges were administered to children to confirm or rule out allergenicity of food (s) incriminated on the basis of the clinical history and/or a positive skin test. Parental history of food restriction alone, in absence of positive skin prick test was of little value in predicting a positive response to the food challenges (1 challenge positive out of 77 based on food restriction: 1.29%). Only 27.02% and 18.75% of positive skin tests were found to be clinically significant in study and control groups respectively. Traditionally, food beliefs were upheld in only 12.5% children for immediate onset clinical reactions (with 5.31% of the foods restricted in their diet) and 9.37% children for delayed onset clinical reactions (with 3.19% of the foods restricted in their diet). The present study shows that even though food restriction is a common practice in patients with respiratory allergy in India, objective documentation of Type I reactions due to these foods cannot be obtained in a majority of such children.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11105420&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Occupational skin diseases among the nurses in the region of Lodz.

Kiec-Swierczynska M, Krecisz B.

Department of Occupational Diseases, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.

We examined 223 nurses from the Lodz region, referred to the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in 1995-99 because of suspected occupational dermatoses. The diagnosis of contact allergy was based on the positive results of patch tests, and immediate allergy to common allergens and latex on the results of prick tests, as well as on the determinations of specific IgE antibodies. Contact allergy was diagnosed in 66.4% of nurses. The most frequent sensitisers were quaternary ammonium compounds (benzalkonium) (23.8%), nickel (21.5%) and formaldehyde (20.6%); allergy was somewhat less frequently caused by thimerosal (14.3%), fragrances (12.1%), glutaraldehyde (10.8%), cobalt (9.9%), thiurams (6.7%) or glyoxal (4.9%). Allergy to rubber was diagnosed in 40 patients (17.9%), including 25 cases of immediate allergy to latex, 8 cases of contact dermatitis from thiuram rubber curing accelerators, and 7 cases of mixed allergy. It has been concluded that the contact with disinfectants (40.8% of allergic nurses), metals (30.9%) and rubber (17.9%) was the most frequent source of allergy in this group of medical personnel.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11109741&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Insect sting-inflicted systemic reactions: attitudes of patients with insect venom allergy regarding after-sting behavior and proper administration of epinephrine.

Goldberg A, Confino-Cohen R.

Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Meir General Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel.

BACKGROUND: Patients with insect venom allergy are at higher risk for development of a recurrent systemic reaction after re-sting. This risk significantly decreases with venom immunotherapy. Patients with insect venom allergy should be able to distinguish a life-threatening systemic reaction from all other various reactions after an insect sting. Accidental epinephrine injection by EpiPen has been reported in the past. Therefore patients with venom allergy should also be well trained in self-administration of their epinephrine when needed. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess patients' attitudes regarding after-sting behavior and their capability to correctly self-administer the epinephrine autoinjector. METHODS: All patients with venom allergy attending our allergy unit either before commencement of or during venom immunotherapy answered a questionnaire addressing various aspects of their intended after-sting behavior. Using an EpiPen trainer device, patients' performance of EpiPen self-administration was evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients participated in the study. Seventy-six of them were equipped with an EpiPen device. Less than 30% of these patients carried it at all times. After re-sting, 50 (54%) patients planned to wait for the development of other symptoms before taking any further action. Twenty-two percent of the patients said that after re-sting they would immediately administer their EpiPen. Proper EpiPen administration technique was demonstrated by 44% of the patients. Having not reached the maintenance dose correlated with a better compliance with carrying of the EpiPen. EpiPen instruction provided by an allergist correlated with a better EpiPen administration technique by the patients. CONCLUSION: Many patients with venom allergy hold wrong ideas about after-sting behavior. Compliance with carrying EpiPen at all times and the ability to correctly administer it are both poor in most patients. Thorough and probably repeated instruction, both written and oral, provided by knowledgeable physicians is mandatory.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11112904&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Nutritional factors, parasite infection and allergy in rural and suburban Vietnamese school children.

Quyen DT, Irei AV, Sato Y, Ota F, Fujimaki Y, Sakai T, Kunii D, Khan NC, Yamamoto S.

Vietnam National Institute of Nutrition, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

Urban areas often have more allergy than rural areas. Dietary patterns and parasite infection have been suggested as possible related factors. This study evaluated the prevalence of allergy in school children in one rural and suburban area of Vietnam where parasite infection is common. A total of 195 children aged 9 to 13 years old completed a self-administered allergy questionnaire and provided blood and stool samples for analysis. Nutritional status, dietary intake and parasite infection were determined in all participants. Allergy was more common in girls (10.7% vs. 7.6%), suburban children (11.8% vs. 6.9%), children with weight-for-age (16.7% vs. 6.0%) and height-for-age (14.8% vs. 4.9%) in the 10th to 75th percentile compared to <3rd percentile, and in children without trichuriasis compared to light trichuriasis (12.5% vs. 9.3%), although none of these comparisons were statistically significant. Logistic regression adjusted for sex, age and area of residence revealed no association between allergy and nutritional status, food intake or parasite infection. Intake of riboflavin, however, was negatively associated with allergy (OR=0.00, 95% CI:0.00-0.65, p=0.038). In conclusion, we were unable to detect any association between allergy and nutritional status, diet, or parasite infection. However, in a population with high undernutrition and parasite infection, the prevalence of allergy was low and the extremely low intake of riboflavin was associated with a higher risk of allergy.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15460903&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Allergy to jackfruit: a novel example of Bet v 1-related food allergy.

Bolhaar ST, Ree R, Bruijnzeel-Koomen CA, Knulst AC, Zuidmeer L.

Department Allergology/Dermatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Jackfruit allergy has been reported just once. It is unknown whether this food allergy is caused by direct sensitization or cross-sensitization to pollen allergens. OBJECTIVE: Establish whether jackfruit allergy is linked to birchpollen allergy. METHODS: Two jackfruit allergic patients and five patients with birchpollen-related apple allergy were recruited. Sensitization to pollen and plant foods was assessed by skin prick test (SPT), radio-allergosorbent test (RAST) and immunoblot. RAST analysis was performed for Bet v 1 and Mal d 1. Cross-reactivity was evaluated by RAST and immunoblot-inhibition. Biological activity of immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured by basophil histamine release. Allergy to jackfruit was evaluated by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) or open challenge (OC). RESULTS: In both patients DBPCFC confirmed the reported jackfruit allergy. SPT was 41 and 27 mm2 and specific IgE to jackfruit was 5.9 and 0.8 IU/ml, respectively. Immunoblot analysis revealed IgE reactivity at Mr of approximately 17 kDa. The Bet v 1-related nature of this allergen in jackfruit was demonstrated by RAST and immunoblot inhibition. To assess whether jackfruit allergy might be common in patients with combined birchpollen-fruit allergy, five such patients underwent an OC with jackfruit. All five had OA-like symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Jackfruit allergy can be added to the list of birchpollen-related food allergies. Increased consumption of this fruit will result in a rise in allergic reactions. Copyright 2004 Blackwell Munksgaard

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15461600&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Food allergy therapy.

Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Sampson HA.

Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One G. Levy Place, Box 1198, New York, NY 10029, USA.

Novel approaches to the treatment and prevention of IgE-mediated food allergy include anti-IgE, food allergy vaccines, herbal preparations, and probiotics. They bring real hope to the patients for whom no specific therapy is available. These immunomodulatory therapies have to be evaluated carefully for potential side effects, such as overstimulation of T helper cell type 1 immune antibodies. Animal models of food allergy are invaluable in testing new therapies for food allergy.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15474867&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine



allergy
Self-reported drug allergy in a general adult Portuguese population.

Gomes E, Cardoso MF, Praca F, Gomes L, Marino E, Demoly P.

Servico de Imunoalergologia, Hospital Maria Pia, Porto, Portugal. evamariasrg yahoo.com

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of self-reported drug allergy in adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of a general adult population from Porto (all of whom were living with children involved in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood-phase three), during the year 2002, using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported drug allergy was 7.8% (181/2309): 4.5% to penicillins or other beta-lactams, 1.9% to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 1.5% to other drugs. In the group 'allergic to beta-lactams', the most frequently implicated drug was penicillin G or V (76.2%) followed by the association of amoxicillin and clavulanic acids (14.3%). In the group 'allergic to NSAIDs', acetylsalicylic acid (18.2%) and ibuprofen (18.2%) were the most frequently identified drugs, followed by nimesulide and meloxicam. Identification of the exact name of the involved drug was possible in less than one-third of the patients, more often within the NSAID group (59.5%). Women were significantly more likely to claim a drug allergy than men (10.2% vs. 5.3%). The most common manifestations were cutaneous (63.5%), followed by cardiovascular symptoms (35.9%). Most of the reactions were immediate, occurring on the first day of treatment (78.5%). Only half of the patients were submitted to drug allergy investigations. The majority (86.8%) completely avoided the suspected culprit drug thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that self-reported allergy to drugs is highly prevalent and poorly explored. Women seem to be more susceptible. beta-lactams and NSAIDs are the most frequently concerned drugs.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15479276&dopt=Abstract allergy medicine