Incidence of Food allergy among patients with allergic conjunctivitis.

The prevalence of ocular allergy is increasing worldwide. Skin prick test is widely recognized as the most reliable method for diagnosing the incriminating allergen as regards type I hypersensitivity reactions. Food allergy results as immunological response to food protein which leads to occurrence of allergic conjunctivitis (AC), allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eosinophilic esophagitis. There is a scarcity of research investigating the association between food allergy and AC. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the incidence of food allergy within AC patients and its linkage to disease intensity and to compare the response to sublingual immunotherapy after 4 months of therapy. The study included 240 individuals diagnosed with AC. Of these patients, only 214 (89.16%) cases exhibited positive skin prick test results and showed incidence of food allergy of 29.6 %. After 4 months of sublingual allergen immunotherapy, the total serum IgE level and the grades of severity decreased significantly (p 0.001 for each). On comparing patients with food allergy on sublingual immunotherapy and patients without food allergy and on sublingual immunotherapy, the change in total serum IgE concentration and the grade of severity did not differ among the two groups (p value was 0.63 and 1.00 respectively). In conclusion, food allergies can contribute to the development of AC. Sublingual allergen immunotherapy can be proposed as a promising therapeutic option for AC patients.

Fungal Aeroallergen Sensitization Patterns among Airway-Allergic Patients in Zagazig, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Airway allergies such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as their comorbidities, are increasing worldwide, causing significant socioeconomic health burdens to societies. It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of the population is allergic to fungi. The type of fungal sensitization varies from one geographical region to another. The present study aimed to identify the common fungal aeroallergen sensitization patterns among airway-allergic patients residing in the Zagazig locality, Egypt, in order to obtain a better understanding of fungal allergy, in addition to improving the awareness and management strategies for those patients. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included 200 allergic rhinitis and asthma patients. Sensitization to fungal aeroallergens was evaluated by skin prick testing and in vitro measurement of total and specific immunoglobulin E. RESULTS: As determined by a skin prick test, 58% of the patients studied were allergic to mixed molds. Alternaria alternata was the predominant fungal aeroallergen among the studied patients (72.2%), which was followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (53.45%), Penicillium notatum (52.6%), Candida albicans (34.5%), and Aspergillus niger (25%). CONCLUSION: Mixed mold sensitization ranked fourth among the most frequent aeroallergens in airway-allergic patients, and Alternaria alternata was the most frequently encountered fungal aeroallergen in the Zagazig locality.