The occurrence of food allergy in Children and Adults in Kerbala City

Abstract

Objective:Food allergies are a public health concern , People with food allergies are two to four times more likely to have asthma or other allergic conditions than those without food allergies.The prevalence of food allergies increased 18% during 1997–2007,We investigate the occurrence of food allergies in Children and adults in Al-Hussein Medical City. A total number of 60 Iraqi patients with symptoms of food allergy were included in the present study . The study was carried out during the period from October, 2013 May, 2014. Blood samples and laboratory investigation was done in teaching Laboratory of AL – Hussein Medical City to detect antibodies type IgE for food allergens( egg white ,egg yolk, cow's milk ,casein, bovine serum albumin ,wheat flour ,soybean, baker's yeast ,peanut ,hazelnut ,almond, orange, apple, banana , tomato ,carrot , celery ,onion ,mutton /lamb ,mustard ,shrimp ,cod fish,chicken meat , mango ,chocolate)using EUROLINE test kit. The Present study illustrated that the food allergy prevalence(measured by specific IgE concentration) in men is 65% and 35% in women, The Rate of occurrence of food allergy in children is (66.7%) while in adults is (33.3%) . Children and adults may be allergic to more than one food stuff. Banana, peanut and white egg recorded high rate of occurrence in food allergy ,lower rate occur in mango, chicken meat ,mutton /lamb. but no recorded allergy to onion and cod fish. Finally this study record that the highest concentration of specific IgE antibodies occur in response to shrimp and white egg. The present study demonstrated high prevalence of food allergy in male compared with female,and high frequency of food allergy in children compared with adults. There's no significant between children and adults in occurrence of food allergy for more than one food allergens.there for should be avoided some type of food which stimulate the immune system.