Prevalence of peanut sensitization in a population of 4,737 subjects--an Allergo-Vigilance Network enquiry carried out in 2002.

A total of 4,737 people consulting allergologists were routinely tested for peanut sensitization. The study involved 84 allergologists in the Allergo-Vigilance Network over a period of 30-60 consecutive days. Investigation procedures were identical. Results classified subjects into four groups according to the clinical history and prick-tests to common inhalants: group 1: subjects suspected of having a food allergy; group 2: subjects with ongoing atopic disease; group 3: subjects with an underlying predisposition to atopy, as showed by one or more positive results to prick-tests with airborne allergens; group 4: non atopic subjects. The sensitization rates were 22.7%, 8.7%, 4%, and 0.4% respectively. Assuming that 25% of the French population is allergic the rate of sensitization to peanut in the general population should be between 1% and 2.5%. Considering a ratio of 3.3 between sensitization and clinical allergy as plausible, the prevalence of peanut allergy could be 0.3% to 0.75% of the French population. This figure is lower than that for the UK, the US and Canada (0.8% to 1.5%). The correlation between the data in this study and those from previous epidemiological studies validates the methodology used in this type of enquiry. One of the aims of the Allergo-Vigilance Network set up in 2001 is to collect data from a large number of people. We present here the results of a study carried out in 2002 by 84 allergologists in the Allergo-Vigilance Network. The primary aim was to assess the prevalence of peanut sensitization in the French population seeking treatment for various allergic disorders. The second objective was to determine whether there was any difference in risk of peanut sensitization in people with ongoing atopic disease, in those with an underlying predisposition to atopy (shown by positive prick-tests) and finally in non atopic people.