Are infants with food allergy candidates for respiratory allergy?

Allergic sensitization in infancy generally develops against food allergens. We aimed to investigate the frequency of aero-allergens sensitization at older ages in infants with food allergy.

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Allergy Clinic. Infants with confirmed IgE-mediated food allergy between January 1^st, 2004, and December 31^st, 2016, were evaluated for aero-allergen sensitivities through skin prick tests (SPT) after at least two years after diagnosis, and the data were compared with a healthy control group.

A total of 187 cases, 87 of which were patients, were included in the study. The cause of food allergies was cow's milk only in 24 (27.6%) cases, egg only in 26 (29.9%) cases, both cow's milk and egg in 33 (37.9%) cases, fish only in two cases (2.3%), and both fish and egg in two (2.3%) cases. The mean age at which the aero-allergen SPT was performed was 65 (46-180) months in the patient group and 72 (48-132) months in the healthy control group. In the patient group, 39 (44.8%) had aero-allergen sensitization, whereas, in the healthy control group, five (5%) had aero-allergen sensitization. Aero-allergen sensitization was more frequent in the patient group (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the type and number of food allergies and the development of aero-allergen sensitization (p>0.05).

In infants with food allergies, sensitization may develop with aero-allergens at an early age. Clinical follow-up of these patients may be important in terms of allergic respiratory diseases.