[Food allergy in childhood asthma]

Food allergy is responsible for asthma in 6% of cases, all ages together, with the same etiology. As in a adults, the influence of atopy is indisputable and is proved by the presence of familial and personal antecedents and rise in total IgE. Proof of food allergy is based only on tests of exclusion and reintroduction and/or provocation tests, under control of spirometry and plasma histamine. Eggs, milk, wheat, fish, potato, pork meat are the foods most frequently associated. A comparative study of food allergy in adult asthma shows that cow milk and eggs are most frequently responsible, as in children. For diagnosis, specific IgE RAST is more often correlated (65%) with the clinical condition than skin tests (60%).