Food anaphylaxis: data from registry of Center for Severe Allergic Reactions of Piemonte region (Italy)

Results Among the 1315 reported cases of anaphylaxis, 541 could be classified as food anaphylaxis, with level 1 (38%), level 2 (59%), and level 3 (3%) of probability. 212 patients were children (< 18yrs, age 7.4±5.4 yrs, M/ F=2.0), and 329 were adults (age 35.5±12.9 yrs, M/F= 0.5). The main implicated food allergens were nuts (31%), egg (16%), milk (15%), fish (8%) and sesame (7%) in children and nuts (26%), vegetables (14%), crustaceans (12%), fresh fruit (10%), fish (7%), legumes (6%), seeds (6%) and flours (5%) in adults. Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis was reported in 28 patients. Skin and respiratory symptoms were reported respectively in 95% and 81% patients, with no differences between children and adults, while gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent in children (43 vs 29%, p=0.001) and cardiovascular involvement was more frequent in adults (36 vs 16%, p<0.0001).