Food Allergy among Children and Adults: A Comparative Analysis

A survey on self-reported food allergy has been carried out from data collected through diagnostic laboratories in Banglore during 2013-2015. Blood samples of a total of 168 individuals are screened using the Food Detective TM IS Professional (Product code: CNSFDIS/CNSFD5IS) kit. The individuals are divided into three categories for the purpose of evaluation, such as 5-15 yrs, 16-45 yrs and ˃ 45 yrs. Among these, the age group of 16-45 yrs was found to be the most affected group, followed by the group of 5-15 yrs and the 45 yrs. Major food items eliciting allergic response varied among different categories. Poornima.B.N. 1* , and Bhat. S.K. 2 1 Bigtec Labs, 2 nd Floor, Golden Heights, 59 th C cross, 4M Block, Rajajinagar, Bangalore-560010, India 2 Biowave Resources, 643, 6 th Block, SMV Layout, Bangalore560110, India. Submission: 5 August 2016 Accepted: 10 August 2016 Published: 25 August 2016 www.ijppr.humanjournals.com Citation: Poornima.B.N. et al. Ijppr.Human, 2016; Vol. 7 (1): 345-350. 346 INTRODUCTION Food is an essential part of the personal and social life of human beings. Consequently, food allergy often disrupts the daily life of the people concerned [1] . Food intolerance involves immune reactions of the body against incompletely digested food entering the blood stream. Mainly, there are two types of food allergy, namely, IgE-mediated anaphylactic type and IgG mediated delayed responses called food intolerance [2,3] . IgG-mediated delayed allergic reactions have been identified as an important cause of chronic diarrhea among children [3] . The food allergy is exemplified by the wide range of symptoms among children comprising poor weight gain, abdominal pain, vomiting, malabsorption, cough, rhinitis, wheeze, atopic dermatitis, angioedema and urticaria [4,5] . In an analysis of the population studies on food allergy from different countries, Keil [6] has identified, the need for standard methodological surveys for evaluating the correlation of ethnicity and food allergy in a multi-ethnic population and food allergy among the elderly population. A study on the prevalence of food intolerance and food allergy in adult Dutch population [7] has reported the occurrence of these disorders among 2.4% of the adult population. Prevalence of food allergy among Indian population is less investigated and hence an attempt has been made in this study to analyze the self-reported food allergy among children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patient data on food allergy included in the current survey are self-reported cases of food allergy/intolerance from outpatients from different hospitals referred to the diagnostic center during 2013 to 2015. The patient population comprised both sexes with the age above 5 s. The blood samples of 168 patients were collected and tested using the Food Detective TM IS Professional (Product code: CNSFDIS/CNSFD5IS) kit. This kit identifies food-specific IgG antibodies for foods which may be involved in various conditions such as food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, and arthritis. The reaction tray is spotted with food protein extracts. A small blood sample is taken from a finger-prick and is then diluted and added to the tray. In subsequent steps, the use of Detector and Developer solution identifies the presence of food antibodies through the appearance of one or more blue spots on the tray. Reference to the food layout plan allows the foods causing antibody production to be identified. Food Detective results do not indicate any specific medical condition. This test is not intended to replace medical advice; it does not diagnose www.ijppr.humanjournals.com Citation: Poornima.B.N. et al. Ijppr.Human, 2016; Vol. 7 (1): 345-350. 347 allergies; it is a qualitative test and the results are a guide to diet only reactions in sensitized and allergic individuals.