A Cross Sectional Study on the Profile of Food Allergy Among Patients With Chronic Urticaria in Kerala

Abstract

BACKGROUND Skin allergy in the form of urticaria is commonly encountered. Food allergy is one of the common aetiologies responsible for this clinical situation. Identifying the offending allergens and avoidance is one of the most important measures which may help in the management of skin allergy. Skin prick test is one of the most reliable and safe method of identifying food allergens. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted to identify the skin sensitivity to various food allergens in patients with chronic urticaria and to study the regional pattern of food allergy in Kerala. 100 atopic patients with complaints of chronic urticaria were selected for the study. Skin prick allergy testing with 30 food allergens were performed in the above patients by skin prick test method. RESULTS 98% of patients with chronic urticaria had some form of food allergy. Common offending food allergens were wheat (28%), garlic (22%), ground nut (20%), cashew nut (18%), prawns (17%), ginger (16%), peas (12%) and black pepper (10%). CONCLUSION Food allergy is common in chronic urticaria. Skin prick test is a reliable and safe method to identify food allergens. Most common offending food allergens were wheat, garlic, ground nut, cashew nut, prawns, ginger, peas and black pepper.

Food allergen sensitivity in atopy

“…7 The prevalence was higher among adults in few other studies. 4 Our study population were predominantly of the age group 20 to 34. Limited sample size and selection bias due to reluctance to skin prick testing in children might have affected this study result.…”

“…The gender prevalence of urticaria revealed a female predominance in a study done in 2017 in Kerala. 4 In a 10 year population based cohort study published in 2018, studying the trends in food allergy over time, the annual average incidence rate of food allergy was significantly higher among males. 22 The prevalence of allergy to foods in patients presenting with atopy with h/o allergy to foods was 83.87 % in our study.…”

“…In this aspect studies from Kerala had revealed widely variable reports ranging from 62.9% to 98%. 4,23 Regional differences in allergen sensitivity pattern might account for these differences. Even though food allergen sensitivity is predominant in our population, the possibility of aeroallergen sensitivity and other causes might be contributing to urticaria in the remaining 16.13% study participants.…”

“…Studies have also shown a female preponderance, the prevalence being two times as in men. 4 Food allergy influences the health related quality of life significantly. It has impact on dietary, social and psychological factors.…”

“…20 According to a study published in 2017 in Kerala wheat, garlic and nuts were the most common food allergen. 4 A ten year population based study report published in 2018 reveals the temporal trends in food allergy with a marked increase in incidence of food allergy between 2002 and 2009. 21…”