Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma
Published on: June 4, 2017
Food sensitization in preschool Egyptian children with recurrent wheezing
Alameldin Mohamed Abdallah1, Naglaa S Osman2, Hanaa A Mohammad2
1Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, 71526, Assiut, Egypt. Alameldin17@gmail.com.
Insights
Food sensitization is common in Egyptian preschoolers with recurrent wheezing. Skin prick testing (SPT) and medical history help identify food allergies, with fish being the most frequent sensitizer.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Clinical Nutrition
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Food allergy affects up to 10% of children.
- Recurrent wheezing is a common pediatric respiratory issue.
- Understanding food sensitization is crucial for managing allergic conditions in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinico-laboratory characteristics of food sensitization.
- To determine the frequency of sensitization to common foods in preschool children with recurrent wheezing in Upper Egypt.
- To evaluate the role of skin prick testing (SPT) and patient history in identifying food allergies.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 100 preschool children with recurrent wheezy chest.
- Data collection included medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray, and laboratory investigations.
- Skin prick testing (SPT) was performed to assess sensitization to common food allergens.
Main Results:
- A family history of allergy was reported in 66% of patients, and 47% had a history of food allergy.
- Twenty-eight patients (28%) showed positive reactions via SPT.
- Sensitization was most common to fish (15%), followed by milk (8%), egg (5%), and wheat (4%).
Conclusions:
- Food sensitization is prevalent in preschool children experiencing recurrent wheezing in Egypt.
- SPT, when used in conjunction with medical history, serves as an effective screening tool for food allergies.
- Identifying specific food sensitizations can aid in symptom management through dietary avoidance.
Background:
Food allergy is common in children with prevalence up to 10%. We assessed the clinico-laboratory characteristics and frequency of food sensitization to the commonly consumed food among upper Egyptian preschool children with recurrent wheezy chest.
Methods:
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 preschool children with recurrent wheezy chest recruited from Emergency, Allergy, and Pulmonology units, Assiut University Children's Hospital, Egypt. All enrolled patients were subjected to history taking, through examination, chest X-ray, skin prick testing (SPT), and lab investigations.
Results:
Family history of allergy was found in 66 patients, while history of other allergies was reported in 47 patients. History of food allergy was positive in 47% of the studied patients, and 28 patients had positive reaction by SPT. Sensitization to fish, milk, egg, and wheat was found in 15, 8, 5, and 4 patients, respectively. Eighteen out of the 28 patients who were sensitized by SPT gave positive history of food allergy, while ten patients had no suggestive history; also, history suggestive of food allergy was negative in 35.7% of sensitized patients versus 61.1% of non-sensitized patients.
Conclusions:
Food sensitization is common in preschool Egyptian children with recurrent wheezing.
Impact:
Food sensitization is common in children with prevalence up to 10%, and in atopic children up to 30%. Sensitization to fish was the most common type of sensitization observed among preschool children with recurrent wheezing, followed by milk, eggs, and wheat, respectively. SPT aided by history is a good screening tool to determine whether patients need to avoid some foods that can cause allergy in order to help in controlling their symptoms.
Related Concept Videos
02:06Allergic Reactions
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:27Allergic Drug Reactions