Asian children have less nut allergies

Monday, 09 August 2010 13:45

There is an impression that peanut and tree nut allergy is relatively uncommon in Asia, and recent research evaluating the prevalence of certain food allergies in schoolchildren in Singapore and Philippines supports this notion. Those living in Asia who were born in Western countries were found to be at higher risk of peanut and tree nut allergy compared with those born in Asia.

Local and expatriate school children (4-6 years and 14-16 years old) in Singapore and Philippines were invited to respond to a written questionnaire in relation to peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergies. A total of 25,692 responses were collected. The prevalence of peanut and tree nut allergy were similar in both local Singapore and Philippine schoolchildren, but was higher in the Singapore expatriates. However, shellfish allergy was more common in the local Singapore and Philippine schoolchildren compared with expatriate children.

The study authors believe environmental factors that are yet to be defined are likely to contribute to these differences.

Reference: Shek et al. 2010. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.06.003