OBJECTIVE To investigate the pattern of sensitisation to aero-allergens and food allergens among asthmatic children in Hong Kong, and to investigate any correlation between atopy and the severity of asthma. DESIGN Consecutive case series. SETTING Paediatric out-patient clinic of a university teaching hospital, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred and four consecutive children with physicia...

OBJECTIVE To objectively measure the change in size of the wheal or erythema resulting from the skin prick test. DESIGN Prospective randomized trial involving patients with allergic rhinitis recruited from March 8, 2009, through August 21, 2009, in Seoul, South Korea. SETTING Otorhinolaryngology clinic of a university hospital. PATIENTS Of 69 patients suspected of having allergic rhinitis...

BACKGROUND Shrimp is a frequent cause of food allergy. Tropomyosin is the major allergen in shrimp, and it shares homology to tropomyosins from other crustaceans, dust mites, cockroach, and parasites. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the value of detection of IgE to shrimp tropomyosin in the diagnosis of shrimp allergy. METHODS We have studied 35 patients with asthma, rhinit...

BACKGROUND Patients can be tested for IgE sensitivities with in vivo or in vitro testing, but patients' experiences of different allergy test modalities have not been studied. The objective of this study was to investigate adult patients' experiences, views and preferences for allergy testing, exploring skin prick testing and allergen-specific IgE testing. METHODS A qualitative study of adult...

BACKGROUND Hypersensitivity to penicillin has been studied worldwide, but data regarding patterns of sensitization in Arabian Gulf countries are scarce. OBJECTIVE To describe the patterns of penicillin hypersensitivity during a 6-year study in Kuwait in terms of demographics, type of the culprit drug, in vivo and in vitro allergy testing. METHODS One hundred and twenty-four patients referre...

background: despite many efforts, the etiology of autism remains unknown. food allergy has been suggested as a pathogenic factor in autism spectrum disorder (asd). our aim in this study was to determine whether food allergy could be considered as a risk factor for autistic children. methods: thirty-nine autistic children were examined by the skin prick test (spt), and total serum ige was evalua...

BACKGROUND Cat allergy is of great importance, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Cat allergens and house dust mite allergens represent the major indoor allergens; however, they are ubiquitous. Cat sensitization and allergy are known risk factors for rhinitis, bronchial hyperreactivity and asthma. Thus, the diagnosis of sensitization to cats is important for any allergist. METHODS 70...

Methods We present the case of a 31 y.o. woman with repeated anaphylactic reactions most of them upon eating at oriental restaurants. A vast allergic study was carried out in another center ruling out allergy/intolerance to several food additives and foods. The key fact for the diagnosis was an anaphylactic reaction upon eating home-made humus made of chickpea, olive oil and sesame oil. We perf...