Food allergy in Africa

Monday, 13 December 2010 11:44

The epidemiology of food allergy in African countries is not often reported. A recent study on the prevalence of food sensitization in Ghanaian schoolchildren indicates 11% have some level of adverse reactions to foods.

Almost 2,000 children from 9 Ghanaian schools were included in the study, which included both questionnaires and skin prick testing to peanut and six different fruits. Five percent of the children participating in the study showed a positive skin prick test reaction, mostly directed against peanut and pineapple. However, no clear association was found by the study authors between reported adverse reactions to food and skin prick test results or specific IgE levels.

Reference: Obeng et al. 2010. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. Vol.155(1) pp. 63-73.