association between allergic rhinitis and food hypersensitivities

ABSTRACT

The relationship between respiratory allergies and food allergies are becoming increasingly well recognized and may rest on the presence of related determinants on allergenic proteins from different sources. Fifty patients suffering from symptoms of allergic rhinitis, when eating some food items, were examined, investigated and followed up in the outpatient clinic. 52 percent of all patients showed specific IgE antibodies in their sera against one or more of these food items egg white, milk, fish, wheat, peanut and soya bean. 21 of the patients [total 26 patients] who showed food allergy, showed association of allergy against one or more of other inhalant allergens and 5 patients only showed food allergy alone. Ten patients out of the twenty one showed food allergy, and pure pollen allergy against grass and weed pollen mix. Twenty four patients [92 percent] out of twenty six showed blood eosinophilia. Twenty one patients [81 percent] out of twenty six showed high total IgE range. To date, cross-reactivities of IgE antibodies appear to be the most probable explanation for the observed clinical symptoms. Similarly, a clinical history of food allergy may be associated with latent respiratory allergy. When both respiratory and food allergies appear in the clinical history of allergic subjects, avoidance of both sources may be considered to be a good therapeutic measure; desensitization to one of the allergenic proteins may also result in desensitization to the other