Hamid Reza Kianifar1, Alireza Pourreza2, Farahzad Jabbari Azad2, Hadis Yousefzadeh3, Fatemeh Masomi2. 1. Allergy Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Clinical Research Development Center, Ghaem Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 2. Allergy Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 3. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of food allergy is difficult in children. Food allergies are diagnosed using several methods that include medical histories, clinical examinations, skin prick and serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) tests, radio-allergosorbent test (RAST), food challenge, and supervised elimination diets. In this study we evaluated allergies to cow's milk, egg, peanut, and fish in children with suspected food allergies with skin prick tests and serum and feces RAST. METHODS: Forty-one children with clinical symptoms of food allergies were enrolled in the study. Skin prick tests and serum and fecal RAST were performed and compared with challenge tests. RESULTS: The most common sites of food allergy symptoms were gastrointestinal (82.9%) and skin (48.8%). 100% of the patients responded to the challenge tests with cow's milk, egg, peanut, and fish. 65% of the patients tested positive with the skin prick test, 12.1% tested positive with serum RAST, and 29.2% tested positive with fecal RAST. CONCLUSION: The skin prick test was more sensitive than serum or fecal RAST, and fecal RAST was more than twice as sensitive as serum RAST.
BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of food allergy is difficult in children. Food allergies are diagnosed using several methods that include medical histories, clinical examinations, skin prick and serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) tests, radio-allergosorbent test (RAST), food challenge, and supervised elimination diets. In this study we evaluated allergies to cow's milk, egg, peanut, and fish in children with suspected food allergies with skin prick tests and serum and feces RAST. METHODS: Forty-one children with clinical symptoms of food allergies were enrolled in the study. Skin prick tests and serum and fecal RAST were performed and compared with challenge tests. RESULTS: The most common sites of food allergy symptoms were gastrointestinal (82.9%) and skin (48.8%). 100% of the patients responded to the challenge tests with cow's milk, egg, peanut, and fish. 65% of the patients tested positive with the skin prick test, 12.1% tested positive with serum RAST, and 29.2% tested positive with fecal RAST. CONCLUSION: The skin prick test was more sensitive than serum or fecal RAST, and fecal RAST was more than twice as sensitive as serum RAST.
Authors: John E Moffitt; David B K Golden; Robert E Reisman; Rufus Lee; Richard Nicklas; Theodore Freeman; Richard deshazo; James Tracy; I Leonard Bernstein; Joann Blessing-Moore; David A Khan; David M Lang; Jay M Portnoy; Diane E Schuller; Sheldon L Spector; Steven A Tilles Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Jennifer J Schneider Chafen; Sydne J Newberry; Marc A Riedl; Dena M Bravata; Margaret Maglione; Marika J Suttorp; Vandana Sundaram; Neil M Paige; Ali Towfigh; Benjamin J Hulley; Paul G Shekelle Journal: JAMA Date: 2010-05-12 Impact factor: 56.272