Premium
Shellfish allergy in children
Author(s) -
Kandyil Roshni M.,
Davis Carla M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2009.00925.x
Subject(s) - medicine , shellfish , allergy , anaphylaxis , food allergy , population , shrimp , immunoglobulin e , allergen , fish <actinopterygii> , immunology , environmental health , biology , fishery , antibody , aquatic animal
Food allergies affect approximately 3.5–4.0% of the world’s population and can range from a mere inconvenience to a life‐threatening condition. Over 90% of food allergies in childhood are caused by eight foods: cow’s milk, hen’s egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish. Shellfish allergy is known to be common and persistent in adults, and is an important cause of food induced anaphylaxis around the world for both children and adults. Most shellfish‐allergic children have sensitivity to dust mite and cockroach allergens. Diagnostic cut‐off levels for skin prick testing in children with shrimp allergy exist but there are no diagnostic serum‐specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) values. All patients with symptoms of IgE‐mediated reactions to shellfish should receive epinephrine autoinjectors, even if the initial symptoms are mild. In this study, we review three cases of clinical presentations of shellfish allergy in children.