title: Food allergy and food intolerance: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Food allergy is a matter of concern because it affects about 0.5-3.8% of the paediatric population and 0.1-1% of adults, and as well may cause life-threatening reactions. Skin prick testing with food extracts and with fresh foods, the measurement of food-specific IgE, elimination diets and a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge are the main diagnostic procedures; many non-validated procedures are available, creating confusion among patients and physicians. The treatment of food allergy is still a matter of debate. Antihistamines, corticosteroids and, if necessary (in case of anaphylaxis), epinephrine, are the drugs of choice for the treatment of symptoms of food allergy. Sodium cromolyn may be used prophylactically even though there are no controlled studies certifying its efficacy. The only etiologic treatment of food allergy is specific desensitization. Sublingual-oral-specific desensitization has been used by our group for the treatment of food-allergic patients with a high percentage of success.
authors: Department of Allergology, Catholic University Policlinico A. Gemelli, Largo Gemelli, 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. allergologia@hotmail.com
authors: Giampiero
authors: G
authors: Patriarca
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Schiavino
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Pecora
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Lombardo
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Pollastrini
authors: Arianna
authors: A
authors: Aruanno
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Sabato
authors: Amira
authors: A
authors: Colagiovanni
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Rizzi
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: De Pasquale
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Roncallo
authors: Marzia
authors: M
authors: Decinti
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Musumeci
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Gasbarrini
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Buonomo
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Nucera
mesh_terms: D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans