Food hypersensitivity in mexican adults at 18 to 50 years of age: a questionnaire survey.
OBJECTIVE
There is limited epidemiological evidence of food hypersensitivity (FH) in the adult population. We aimed to determine the prevalence of FH in Mexican adults, their clinical features and to establish common food involved in its appearance.


METHODS
We designed a cross-sectional study using a fixed quota sampling; 1,126 subjects answered a structured survey to gather information related to FH.


RESULTS
The prevalence of FH in adults was 16.7% (95% CI, 14.5% to 18.8%), without statistical significant differences related to gender (women, 17.5% and men, 15.9%) or residential location. The most common clinical manifestations in adults with FH were oral allergy syndrome (70 of 1,126) and urticaria (55 of 1,126). According to category, fruits and vegetables were the most frequent foods to trigger FH (6.12%) and were individually related to shrimp (4.0%), and cow milk (1.5%). Adults under age 25 had a higher frequency of FH (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.91, P <0.001). Personal history of any atopic disease was significantly associated with FH (P <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of FH is relatively high in Mexican adults, and FH is significantly associated with atopic diseases.
Allergy and Clinical Immunology Service, The "Dr. Juan I. Menchaca" Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México.
Martín
M
Bedolla-Barajas
Guadalajara Lamar University. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Tonatiuh Ramses
TR
Bedolla-Pulido
Guadalajara Lamar University. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Alan Salvador
AS
Camacho-Peña
UTEG University. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Estefanía
E
González-García
Public Health Institute, University of Veracruz. Xalapa, Veracruz, México.
Jaime
J
Morales-Romero
Food hypersensitivity; adult; epidemiology; prevalence; questionnaire