title: Relationship between respiratory and food allergy and evaluation of preventive measures.
abstract: Food allergy and respiratory allergy are two frequently associated diseases and with an increasing prevalence. Several reports show the presence of respiratory symptoms in patients with food allergy, while certain foods may be related to the development or exacerbation of allergic rhinitis and asthma. The present update focuses on this relationship, revealing a pathogenic and clinical association between food and respiratory allergy. This association is even more intense when the food hypersensitivity is persistent or starts in the early years of life. Food allergy usually precedes respiratory allergy and may be a risk factor for allergic rhinitis and asthma, becoming a relevant clinical marker for severe atopic asthma. Furthermore, the presence of co-existing asthma may enhance life-threatening symptoms occurring during a food allergic reaction. Recommendations for dietary restrictions during pregnancy and breastfeeding to prevent the development of respiratory allergy are controversial and not supported by consistent scientific data. Current recommendations from medical societies propose exclusive breastfeeding during the first four months of life, with the introduction of solid food in the fourth to the seventh month period of life. A delayed introduction of solid food after this period may increase the risk of developing subsequent allergic conditions. Further studies are encouraged to avoid unjustified recommendations involving useless dietary restrictions.
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IP), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: fvega13@hotmail.com.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Vega
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Prado, Toledo, Spain.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Panizo
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital Municipal Badalona, Spain; Department of Allergy, Sant Pere Claver Fundació Sanitaria, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Dordal
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: González
authors: QUIRON Sagrado Corazón, Sevilla, Spain; Hospital Victoria Eugenia Cruz Roja, Sevilla, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Velázquez
authors: Department of Pneumology and Allergy, Hospital Clínic i Universitari, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Valero
authors: Department of Allergy, CE Virgen de la Cinta, Huelva, Spain.
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Sánchez
authors: U.G.C. Allergy, IBIMA, Regional University Hospital of Málaga, UMA, Málaga, Spain.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Rondón
authors: Allergy Unit, Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Montoro
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital del Tórax-Ofra, HUNS La Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Matheu
authors: Department of Allergy, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo, Toledo, Spain.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lluch-Bernal
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital del Tórax-Ofra, HUNS La Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: González
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital El Bierzo, Ponferrada, León, Spain.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Fernández-Parra
authors: Asthma and Rhinitis Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital de Jerez, Cádiz, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Del Cuvillo
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital Universitario, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Dávila
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Colás
authors: U.G.C. Allergy, IBIMA, Regional University Hospital of Málaga, UMA, Málaga, Spain.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Campo
authors: Department of Allergy, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Antón
authors: UGC Alergología Sevilla, Hospital el Tomillar, Sevilla, Spain.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Navarro
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015897:Comorbidity; D000072001:Diet, Healthy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Allergic asthma; Allergic rhinitis; Breastfeeding; Epidemiology; Food allergy; Prevalence; Respiratory allergy; Solid foods