Natural history of food allergy in infants and children in Israel.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge about the natural history of food allergy, especially sesame, is scarce.


OBJECTIVE
To follow the natural history of food allergies in Israel, particularly of sesame allergy.


METHODS
The survey was conducted based on clinical records and a detailed questionnaire of children diagnosed as having food allergy.


RESULTS
We found 234 children with suspected food allergy. Testing detected 283 allergies in 180 patients (77%) with confirmed diagnosis. The most common allergies were to cow's milk (n = 125), eggs (n = 71), sesame (n = 30), and soy (n = 23). Of those with milk allergy, 69% were IgE mediated (group 1) and 31% were non-IgE mediated (group 2). Group 1 was more likely to have an atopic background than was group 2 (P = .003), whereas group 2 was more likely to have resolution of the allergy (35 of 39 [90%] in group 2 compared with only 32 of 86 [37%] in group 1, P < .001). Allergy to soy was found in 23 children, of whom 87% manifested with gastrointestinal symptoms and 21 (91%) were also allergic to cow's milk. In 19 children (83%), the allergy resolved. Thirty children had allergy to sesame, and 73% of them had an atopic background. The allergy resolved in only 9 of these patients (30%) at a mean age of 2.8 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution of food allergens in Israel differs from that in other countries. Non-IgE-mediated food allergy and particularly milk and soy allergy were likely to resolve completely with time. Sesame allergy was 1 of the most frequent in this cohort, was usually IgE mediated, and tended to resolve in only a few patients.
Aaronov
Darit
D
Department of Pediatrics, E Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
Tasher
Diana
D
Levine
Arie
A
Somekh
Eli
E
Serour
Francis
F
Dalal
Ilan
I
D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008499:Medical Records; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D031685:Sesamum / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013025:Glycine max / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E