The relationship between atopy and wheeze was examined in children, together with the possible influence on these conditions of parental atopy and family size. Children with a repeated history of wheezing were selected from an urban general practice population. The children, their first degree relatives, and a control group were examined for atopic status, atopy being defined as more than one p...

BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) is frequently associated with food allergies. In addition to the skin prick test (SPT) and serum-specific IgE, the atopy patch test (APT) has been introduced as a diagnostic procedure for food allergies. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the APT, the SPT and the serum-specific IgE levels compared with that of oral food challenge test a...

Cow's milk allergy affects approximately 2% of infants under 2 years of age. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding its pathophysiology and immunological mechanisms. Apart from IgE-mediated atopic manifestations, T cell-mediated reactions have been demonstrated in infants with cow's milk allergy. The clinical spectrum ranges from immediate-type reactions, presenting with ur...

BACKGROUND/AIM The "hygiene hypothesis" addresses the correlation between the occurrence of atopy and the frequency of infections in the earliest age, explaining an increase in the incidence of atopic diseases by living in good, infection-free, hygienic conditions. The aim of our study was to determine the conection between atopy and Camplobacter infection, and to analyze the association betwee...

UNLABELLED In our study, the genetic linkage of the Fcepsilon RIbeta gene with atopy in 77 affected sibling pairs recruited from an Italian panel of 201 subjects has been examined. Atopy was defined by the presence of a positive skin prick test to one or more common aeroallergens, a positive RAST test to one or more common aeroallergens and an elevated circulating total IgE. Genotype analysis w...

BACKGROUND Patient history gives important clues about the likelihood of atopy. However, the accuracy of assessment of atopy based on detailed allergy history is low. The objective of this survey was to determine the successful prediction rate of atopy by a questionnaire and the effect of various factors on the successful prediction. METHODS A standard questionnaire including detailed allergy...