title: Geographical differences in food allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food allergy represents a health problem worldwide and leads to life-threatening reactions and even impairs quality of life. Epidemiological data during the past decades is very heterogeneous because of the use of different diagnostic procedures, and most studies have only been performed in specific geographical areas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to review the available data on the geographical distribution of food allergies at the food source and molecular level and to link food allergy patterns to the aeroallergen influence in each area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, studies performed within the EuroPrevall Project and EAACI position papers regarding food allergy were analysed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of food allergy sensitization differs between geographical areas, probably as a consequence of differences among populations, their habits and the influence of the cross-reactivity of aeroallergens and other sources of allergens. Geographical differences in food allergy are clearly evident at the allergenic molecular level, which seems to be directly influenced by the aeroallergens of each region and associated with specific clinical patterns.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Pneumology Department, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Esc 6 - Pl. 0, C/Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. jbartra@clinic.ub.es.|Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain. jbartra@clinic.ub.es.|Red de Investigación de Reacciones Adversas a Alérgenos y Fármacos, Madrid, Spain. jbartra@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartra
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Pneumology Department, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Esc 6 - Pl. 0, C/Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.|Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.|Red de Investigación de Reacciones Adversas a Alérgenos y Fármacos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Moral
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Enrique
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D005502:Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens
keywords: Aeroallergens; Food allergy; Geographical differences; Molecular pattern; Prevalence