Fish allergy in childhood

Monday, 02 February 2009 20:42

A recent publication in the journal Pediatric Allergy & Immunology provides detailed information about childhood fish allergy in Europe.  Fish and its derived products can be potent food allergens either by ingestion, skin contact, or inhaled.

Prevalence of fish allergy appears to depend on the amount of fish eaten in the local diet. In Europe, the highest consumption occurs in Scandinavian countries, Spain and Portugal. In Spain, fish is the third most frequent allergen in children under 2 yr of age after egg and cow's milk. Most cases are IgE-mediated, due to ingestion or contact with fish or as a result of inhalation of cooking vapors.

Among all the species studied, those from the Tuna (Tunidae) and Swordfish (Xiphiidae) families appear to be the least allergenic.

Reference: Pascual et al 2008 Pediatric Allergy & Immunology Vol 19(7) pp. 573-579.