SPECIFIC FOOD ALLERGENS ASSOCIATED WITH CLINICAL SENSITIZATION AMONG PATIENTS PRESENTING TO HOSPITALS IN HYDERABAD, INDIA

Abstract

<h3>Introduction</h3> Various international initiatives have aimed to estimate the prevalence, burden, and etiology of food-triggered disorders, including food allergy (FA). However, comparatively few efforts have been undertaken in India. A multicenter study was conducted in and around Hyderabad (South India) to identify predominant food allergens impacting the regional population presenting for food-related illness. <h3>Methods</h3> ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad investigated the relative prevalence of specific food triggers among patients consulting to 5 government and private hospitals in Hyderabad. A pilot study identified 78 food items as perceived illness triggers by 100 patients presenting to hospital network-affiliated physicians. A total of 1966 participants reported illness triggered by ≥1 of the 78 foods and provided detailed demographic information and specific allergy history. Participants underwent SPT, total IgE and sIgE testing to each reported food trigger. <h3>Results</h3> Patients reporting food-related illness were mostly adults (Mean age=44.9; SD=23.4) with a family history of atopic disease (69.4%) and 55.2% were male. Roughly half (48.8%) reported experiencing food-induced reaction symptoms for ≤10 years. Asthma, allergic rhinitis and urticaria were common, with 73.4%, 55.2%, and 32.8% reporting a history of each. The top 12 food-related illness triggers for which SPT suggested allergic sensitization (≥3mm) were chickpea (6.3%), cumin (5.9%), walnut (5.8%), cabbage (2.1%), coconut(1.5%), eggplant(1.5%), split red lentil(1.5%), betel leaf(1.3%), garlic(0.8%), beans(1.1%), prawn(0.7%), mango(0.7%). Relative to SPT, elevated sIgE was less frequently observed for each above food. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The relative distribution of foods associated with allergic sensitization among a large, Hospital-based South Indian sample, differs substantially from those observed in other regions.