QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ECUATORIAN ADOLESCENTS WITH FOOD ALLERGY DETERMINED BY SKIN TEST REACTIVITY AND SERUM IGE LEVELS

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 2017-10, Vol.71 (Suppl. 2), p.842
• Main Authors: Argudo, Diana Alexandra Morillo, Chalco, Ximena Elena Calle, Macías, Rosa Angélica Sacoto, Tenesaca, Dolores Susana Andrade, Espinoza, Claudia Rosana Rodas, Jimbo, Diana Paola Córdova, Carpio, Gabriela Alexandra Zúñiga, García, Ana Angélica García, Avilés, Angelica Ochoa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Allergens; Allergies; Diagnostic systems; Dietary restrictions; Food; Food allergies; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulins; Nuts; Peanuts; Quality of life; Reactivity; Risk assessment; Serum levels; Skin tests; Teenagers
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000480486

Background and objectives: Food allergy (FA) can affect the quality of life of people. FA determined by skin test reactivity and serum IgE levels increase the precision of the diagnosis. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of food allergy (determined by skin prick reactivity and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels) and its affectation on quality of life among Ecuadorian adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 462 Ecuadorian adolescents from Santa Isabel between July 2014 and February 2016. Skin prick test (SPT) was applied in adolescents to identified allergic sensitization (wheal size > 3 mm that negative control) using 20 commercial food allergens. Adolescents with allergic sensitization were examined by a Immunologist to identify: i) history of food-associated allergic symptoms, ii) positive IgE specific serum using ImmunoCAP technique and iii) affectation in the quality of life applying a questionnaire. Positive IgE to a specific food was defined with serum levels ≥ 0.35 IU. FA was identified when the participants reported history of food-associated allergic symptoms and had a positive SPT or positive IgE specific levels. Affectation of quality of life evaluated three items: dietary restrictions, emotional impact and risk from accidental exposure. Results: FA by SPT was prevalent among 4.33% of the adolescents. FA by SPT and serum IgE levels was prevalent in 1.73% of the participants. Shrimp and peanuts were the main allergens. FA by SPT and serum IgE levels affects the quality of life of adolescents an average of 0.05 / 6, SD ± 0.94. Conclusions: FA is prevalent in adolescents from Santa Isabel. The use of specific IgE in combination with SPT increased the diagnostic accuracy. Adolescents with FA did not present significant affectation in their quality of life, contrarily to other studies that observe notable affectation. This opposite result can be explained by the lack of knowledge about their condition.