title: The prevalence of the oral allergy syndrome and pollen-food syndrome in an atopic paediatric population in south-west Sydney.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) and pollen-food syndrome (PFS) are regarded as uncommon manifestations of paediatric atopic disease. However, little Australian data exist. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of OAS in an atopic, paediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study assessed 163 patients aged 4-17 years from the Paediatric Allergy & Immunology Clinic at Campbelltown Hospital, which serves a population base >250,000 with approximately 28% under the age of 18 years. A questionnaire was administered and skin prick tests (SPTs) were performed utilising commercial extracts and fresh and frozen fruit samples. Frozen samples were created by reducing fresh fruit to a semi-solid state and storing at -20 degrees Celsius for up to 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the studied population, the prevalence of OAS was 14.7%, PFS 4.9%, PFS in those with allergic rhinitis 6.25% and PFS in those with allergic rhinitis and pollen sensitisation 12.1%. All PFS-implicated fruits were tropical fruits with watermelon the most common. The prevalence of OAS caused by food allergy was 13.6%, implicating peanut most frequently. The most common cause of OAS was immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy (57.9%). Only frozen samples of watermelon, pineapple and rockmelon produced results consistent with the 'gold standard' of fresh fruit SPT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests the prevalence of OAS and PFS are more common in paediatric populations than previously described, with tropical fruits predominantly implicated in PFS. Further research is required to determine whether frozen fruits are a reliable alternative to fresh fruit in SPT.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Cassandra Eb
authors: CE
authors: Brown
authors: Constance H
authors: CH
authors: Katelaris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: food allergy; oral allergy syndrome; paediatric allergy; pollen food syndrome