Challenge-proven food allergy in Australia

Tuesday, 15 March 2011 09:30

While the prevalence of food allergy in children is said to be increasing, few studies have used oral food challenge to measure this phenomenon at the population level. A group of investigators from the Australian ‘Health Nuts’ allergy study have conducted research to measure the prevalence of challenge-proven IgE-food allergies in a population-based sample of 12-month-old infants.

A sample comprising 2848 infants was recruited at childhood immunization sessions in Melbourne. The prevalence of challenge-proven peanut allergy was 3%; raw egg allergy 9%; and sesame allergy just less than 1%. Oral food challenges to cow's milk and shellfish were not performed. Of those with raw egg allergy, 80% could tolerate baked egg.

Overall, more than 10% of the population-based sample of 1 year old infants had challenge-proven IgE-mediated food allergy to one of the common allergenic foods.

Reference: Osborne et al. 2011. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Vol. 127 (3) pp. 668-676.e2