BMJ 1996;313:1477-1478 (7 December)

Letters

Allergy to peanut, nuts, and sesame seed in Australian children

EDITOR,--Pamela W Ewan's study of nut allergy and Hugh A Sampson's accompanying editorial focus on an important public health issue.1 2 We have reviewed our database of the results of allergen skin tests undertaken by the department of allergy, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. This is the main paediatric tertiary referral service for the state of Victoria (population 4.4 million, including 943 000 children under the age of 14 years). The range of clinical problems consisted essentially of atopic eczema in infants and anaphylaxis to food in young and older children. During 1990-6 sensitisation (>/=3+, wheal diameter approximately 3 mm) to peanut was found in 1601 infants and children, and sensitisation to a tree nut (almond, brazil, cashew, hazelnut, or walnut) in 590; 491 were sensitised to both (fig 1). This represents a combined prevalence of sensitisation of at least 0.2%. Sensitisation occurred early: 920 children aged under 24 months . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Clinical study of peanut and nut allergy in 62 consecutive patients: new features and associations
Pamela W Ewan
BMJ 1996 312: 1074-1078. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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