[What is new in food allergy in 2003?]

Food allergies afflict 4-8% of the children and are associated with clinical and familial burdens. The management of food allergy was improved during the last year. Firstly, early diagnosis should lead to early proper treatment. Recommendations were done by the paediatricians group of the EAACI. Diagnosis and outcome of food allergies were improved by the predictive values of in vitro specific IgE testing. The cut-off level permits diagnosis and follow-up of these individual patients. Until newer therapies available, strict food avoidance is needed. Future therapies under investigation include the reduction of IgE by the infusion of anti-IgE antibodies, immunotherapy with mutated proteins or engineered hypoallergenic food. Murine model was developed, and results were encouraging. Intervention efforts must be instituted early in life and primary prevention of food allergy was stated.