Severe food anaphylaxis: 107 cases registered in 2002 by the Allergy Vigilance Network.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of food allergies increases, relating to diet modifications. The consumption of new foods--exotic foods or foods originally used for animal feed, new proteins, neo allergens due to the use of new technologies and soon, Genetically Modified Foods--are in the spotlight.


OBJECTIVE
It is essential to develop a system of food allergy vigilance encompassing the full range of foods being consumed. Understanding this imperative leads logically to the suggestion of developing an allergy vigilance network taking advantage of the ongoing experience of allergists "on the ground".


METHODS
The French Allergy Vigilance Network is subscribed to by 302 allergologists (267 of whom are French). The aims of the Network are to record cases of severe anaphylaxis, to establish an epidemiological data bank from prospective multicenter studies, and to monitor the allergic risk from novel foods.


RESULTS
In 2002, 107 cases of severe anaphylaxis were recorded: anaphylactic shock--59.8% (one fatal), systemic reaction--18.7%, laryngeal angio-edema--15.9%, acute severe asthma--5.6% (one fatal). The main allergens identified were peanuts, nuts, shellfish, lupine flour and wheat flour. Action has been taken as a result: information by industry on inadequate labeling, withdrawal of wrongly labeled batches, and university hospital centers have been encouraged to establish the allergenic safety of their catering services.


CONCLUSIONS
Setting up such a network in other countries would lead to a significant advance in knowledge of the peculiarities of allergies relating to a wide variety of eating habits.
Moneret-Vautrin
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DA
Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital, Avenue de Lattre de Tassigny, 54035 Nancy Cedex, France.
Kanny
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G
Morisset
M
M
Rancé
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F
Fardeau
M F
MF
Beaudouin
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005638:Fruit / Q000009:adverse effects; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007819:Laryngeal Edema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D031297:Lupinus; D009754:Nuts / Q000009:adverse effects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012758:Shellfish / Q000009:adverse effects; D014908:Triticum