WAYS OF OPTIMIZING THE DIAGNOSTICS OF FOOD ALLERGIES IN CHILDREN BASED ON THE CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CRITERIA

The aim of the research was to investigate the spectrum of food sensitization, followed by the determination of the main clinical criteria and immunological markers of food allergy in children with gastroduodenal pathology and atopic dermatitis.

Materials and methods: We conducted a comprehensive clinical and immunological examination of 120 children aged from 6 to 15 years with gastroduodenal pathology (group 1; n = 64) and atopic dermatitis (group 2; n = 56), who had a history of adverse allergic reactions to food. The control group consisted of 22 apparently healthy children.

Results: In the group of children with gastroduodenal pathology, the spectrum of the most common significant food allergens was represented by legumes, the reaction to which was observed in 25 (39.1%) subjects, eggs (25.0%) and fish (23.4%), which were found in every fourth child. Among patients with atopic dermatitis, the leading positions were occupied by fruits, which were registered in 20 (35.7%) children, nuts - in 15 (26.8%), honey and vegetables - in 11 (19.6%) children, respectively. The study of immunological status in comparison with the control group revealed reliable increases in pro-inflammatory T-helper-2 cytokines - interleukin-4 and chemokine TARC/CCL-17 and a simultaneous decrease in anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 in children of the 1st and 2nd groups who had gastrointestinal and skin manifestations of allergic reactions when eating food products.

Conclusions: The study of peculiarities of adverse reactions to food in the examined children allowed us to identify specific clinical criteria and immunological markers of food allergy, which had certain features depending on the skin or gastrointestinal manifestations.