Soy allergy in atopic children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Immunology

Background:

• Soy is a common food allergen, yet its prevalence in children is not well-defined.
• Accurate diagnosis of soy allergy is crucial for managing allergic conditions in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of soy allergy in atopic children.
• To evaluate diagnostic methods for soy allergy in a pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 704 children (1 month–18 years) with allergic symptoms.
• Utilized skin prick tests followed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) or open challenges for soy allergy confirmation.
• Administered soy formula or soy flour capsules, with placebos, to assess allergic reactions.

Main Results:

• 21% (148/704) of children had positive soy skin prick tests.
• 6.1% (8/131) of children with positive skin prick tests were confirmed to have clinical soy allergy via challenge.
• Children with confirmed soy allergy often had a history of cow's milk allergy and experienced immediate cutaneous and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of confirmed clinical soy allergy among children with positive soy skin prick tests is 6.1%.
• Negative skin prick tests reliably excluded clinical soy allergy in this pediatric cohort.
• Diagnostic challenges are essential for confirming soy allergy in children with suggestive skin test results.