Self-reported prevalence of clinical features of allergy to nuts and seeds, and seafood in university students

Abstract

BackgroundIn developing countries, there is a lack of epidemiological information related to food hypersensitivity, including nuts and seafood.ObjectiveThe aim was to determine the prevalence of allergic reactions and clinical manifestations associated with the consumption of nuts and seeds or seafood in university students.MethodsWe designed an observational cross-sectional study. A structured questionnaire was applied to Mexican university students to identify allergic reactions associated with the consumption of nuts and seeds, and seafood.ResultsA sample of 1,200 students was included; mean age of 19.7 ± 1.7 years. Prevalence of symptoms associated with the consumption of nuts and seeds, and seafood were 2.8% (33 of 1,200) and 3.5% (42 of 1,200) respectively. The main clinical manifestations were abdominal pain (63.6% in nuts and seeds), flushing (50% in seafood), and pharyngeal oppression (19% in seafood). Prevalence of perceived, probable and systemic allergy to nuts and seeds was 2.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5%–3.0%), 0.8% (95% CI, 0.3%–1.3%) and 0.2% (95% CI, 0%–0.4%) respectively. On the other hand, the prevalence (perceived, probable, and systemic) associated with seafood consumption was 3.5% (95% CI, 2.5%–4.5%), 1.8% (95% CI, 1.0%–2.5%), and 0.5% (95% CI, 0.1%–0.9%). Walnut and shrimp were the most frequently reported foods.ConclusionFor every 100 Mexican university students, approximately 3 or 4 perceived to have allergy attributed to the consumption of some nuts and seeds or seafood, while 1 or 2 students would have a probable reaction to this same type of food. Walnut and shrimp would be causing the higher quantity of food allergic reactions.

Alergia a alimentos en adultos con enfermedades respiratorias alérgicas: prevalencia y manifestaciones clínicas

“…Respecto a los camarones, estudios previos realizados en México han evidenciado que son uno de los principales desencadenantes de hipersensibilidad a alimentos en adultos. 20,21 Dada su presencia en todo el mundo, se indago específi camente sobre la alergia al cacahuate, la cual se registró en siete de los 257 pacientes, lo que representa una prevalencia de 2.7 %; en India, mediante pruebas de reto oral se encontró una cifra similar a la nuestra. 1 En niños mexicanos con enfermedades alérgicas se registró una prevalencia de alergia al cacahuate superior a 3 %.…”

Spring and allergy

“…In this issue, readers will find an interesting report from Singapore on shellfish/crustacean oral allergy syndrome [ 6 ]. This issue also contains a study on self-reported prevalence of food allergy to nuts, seeds, and seafood from Mexico [ 7 ]. Readers would be interested in an article that described 16-year experience of oral food provocation test at a teaching hospital in Thailand [ 8 ], and an unusual case of infant seizures with anaphylaxis to wheat [ 9 ].…”