Is food allergy in adults an over-rated - or under-rated - problem?Researchers from the Clinic for Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology at the University of Wurzburg, in Germany, tested this last year by quizzing more than 400 patients who had been referred to their outpatient clinic with suspected food allergies.
The patients underwent a standardised diagnostic evaluation, including a thorough history-taking, blood tests and food challenge tests.
Dr Axel Trautmann and his team took as a starting point the knowledge that up to 20 per cent of the population sees itself as suffering from a food allergy or one type or another. As well, genuine immune-related food allergy is suspected by physicians and patients far more often that it is actually shown to be present.
Unfounded suspicions of food allergy can substantially impair a patient's quality of life through needless dietary restrictions and the accompanying anxiety. However, IgE-mediated food allergy that has gone undiagnosed or that has not been taken seriously can manifest suddenly with life-threatening anaphylaxis.
The results of the Wurzburg study underscored the importance of differentiating between IgE-mediated food allergy and other non-allergic types of food reaction.
Of the 419 patients examined, 214 (51.1%) were found to have an IgE-mediated food allergy. Almost half of these patients (24.3% of the overall group) had previously experienced food-induced anaphylaxis. In 205 patients (48.9%), however, an IgE-mediated food allergy was ruled out as far as possible.
The German researchers conclusion?Only a comprehensive evaluation performed by an experienced allergist in accordance with current guidelines can protect patients from the negative consequences of excessive concern about a non-existent food allergy or, on the other hand, the negative consequences of inadequate attention to a genuine food allergy.
A proper evaluation consists of detailed history-taking, skin tests and challenge test when indicated.
Ten to 20% of adults in the population report food intolerances - mostly they refer to these as "food allergies". But only a small proportion of these are genuine immunologically mediated allergies. Food intolerances are therefore overrated on the one hand, but on the other hand, potentially dangerous food allergies are often not diagnosed at all or only with delays.Ref.Food Allergy in Adults: An Over- or Underrated Problem?C.S. Seitz, P. Pfeuffer, P. Raith, E. Bröcker, A. Trautmann
Deutches Arzteblatt International, 2008, Vol 105(420), pp715-723
More reading: Telling Food Allergies From False Alarms
