Food-induced asthma in China: an analysis in 40 cases

Forty patients with a history of recurrent attacks of asthma after ingesting certain foods are described. All of these individuals had positive intracutaneous skin tests to at least one of the food allergens which was suggested by their history to cause an attack. In four of these patients, a bronchoprovocational challenge was performed with an aerosolized extract of the potential offending food. Clinical manifestations, possible mechanisms, and diagnostic measures for food-induced asthma are discussed.