[Allergy to food colouring. A prospective study in ten children]

In order to know more about allergy to food colouring, we conducted a prospective open study over 8 months in a group of 10 atopic children with repeated urticaria. The mean age was 6.5 years (4.2 - 13.5 years). The diagnosis was based on oral challenge tests along with hisory taking there were 3 cases of allergy to food colourings. Clinical features were mainly skin symptoms, sometimes associated with GI manifestations which were not only rare (1 case in our series) but also non specific. Colourings-free diet was recommended in consequence. It resulted in the disappearance of the symptoms in a child (Red cochineal) and their regression in the two others (Red cochineal, Red beet) with a follow up of 8 months and 3 months respectively.