Skin prick testing to food allergens in breast‐fed young infants with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis

Abstract

SUMMARY The role of food allergy in atopic dermatitis is controversial. This study presents results of skin prick tests to 31 different food allergens in a selected population of predominantly breast-fed young infants who had moderate to severe generalized atopic dermatitis. Of the 59 infants (22 female, mean age 26.5 weeks) tested, 54 infants (91.5%) had positive responses to one or more foods, 53 infants (90%) were positive to one or more of the five common food allergens (egg white, cow's milk, peanuts, wheat or soy) and 80% were positive to egg white, which was by far the most common positive test. A total of 37 infants had strongly positive responses to one or more foods, with 33 of these 37 having strongly positive responses to egg white. The significance of these responses is discussed. It is concluded that positive skin prick tests to foods, particularly to egg white, are very common in this selected population of breast-fed infants with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Occurrence of parent‐reported food hypersensitivities and food allergies among children aged 1–4 yr

“…The main strength of this study lies on the population base: the parents of all the children within a defined geographical area and age range were invited to participate, without any biasing clinical or other selection criteria (16), like in some previous studies on patients in specialized care (28–31). Thus, more representative prevalence estimates on FAs and FHSs in a general child population were obtained.…”

World Allergy Organization (WAO) Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) Guidelines

“…In 2184 young children aged 13–24 months with atopic dermatitis, the frequency of positive serum IgE responses against cow's milk protein was 3% 64. Among 59 breast-fed children with moderate-severe AD, 5 (8,5%) were SPT-positive with milk extracts 65. In a consecutive series with moderate atopic eczema referred to a University-affiliated dermatology department, SPT showed 16% of infants with IgE against CMP 66.…”

Skin prick test to foods in childhood atopic eczema: pros and cons

“…In 40% to 90% of eczematous children, tests for IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to foods result as positive [23-25]. However, a positive SPT does not mean that the child has a clinical immediate hypersensitivity to that food.…”