title: Epidemiology of food allergy.
abstract: Food allergy (FA) is perceived as a common problem, especially during childhood. Accurate assessment of incidence and prevalence of FA has been difficult to establish, however, due to lack of universally accepted diagnostic criteria. Although many foods are reported to cause IgE-mediated FA, most studies focus on 4 common food groups: cow's milk, hen's egg, peanut/tree nuts, and fish/shellfish. There may be variation in the prevalence of FA in regions of the world and a likely increase in prevalence has been observed in recent decades. This cannot be stated with confidence, however, without the use of consistent methodology and diagnostic criteria.
authors: University of Portsmouth, 2 King Richard the 1(st) Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2FR, UK.
authors: Carina
authors: C
authors: Venter
authors: S Hasan
authors: SH
authors: Arshad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021181:Egg Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005399:Fishes / Q000276:immunology; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012758:Shellfish / Q000009:adverse effects; D021182:Wheat Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E