PRESENCE OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ALLERGY IN ALLERGIC CHILDREN

Abstract

In the literature to date, there are no reports of systematic research on any fruit or vegetable allergies in Japanease children. Thus, this study was designed to elucidate features of fruit and vegetable allergy in Japanease children living in metropolitan Tokyo. RAST studies were performed in 175 allergic children with RAST positive to some food. Twenty-eight patients had episodes of fruit and vegetable hypersensitivity. The results of the positive RAST tests for 22 allergens were between 10.9% (banana) and 40.0% (kiwifruit), and increasd with age. The results appeared to indicate these sentizations resulting from cross-reaction between fruit and vegetable. In metropolitan Tokyo, mainly kiwi and tomato induced symptoms. The major manifestations were oral symptoms. The disagreement between RAST, SPT and case histories must be given careful consideration with regard to diagnosis of fruit and vegetable allergy.