High prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in children aged 6 to [corrected] 7 years from the Canary Islands. [corrected].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of bronchial asthma and allergic diseases in schoolchildren from the Canary Islands, Spain. METHODS: Cross-sectional study following the methodology of ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood), which uses standardized and validated questionnaires. The study participants were children aged between 6 and 7 years attending schools in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. RESULTS: Of the 3108 questionnaires distributed, 1883 were answered, and 1871 were evaluable (60.6%). Gender distribution was similar (51.8% boys vs 48.2% girls). Current prevalence of asthma was 18.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.7-20.2), rhinitis 40.3% (95% CI, 38-42.3), and atopic dermatitis 35.8% (95% CI, 33.6-37.9). The highest prevalence of rhinitis was recorded during the autumn months (P<.005). Asthma was more frequent in boys than in girls (P<.05), but there were no statistical differences for the other allergic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in children aged 6-7 years in the Canary Islands is higher than in other areas of Spain where the ISAAC study has been performed. Male gender is an important risk factor in children, especially for asthma symptoms.

[Latex-fruit syndrome]. / Síndrome látex-frutas.

During the last decade, latex IgE-mediated allergy has been recognized as a very important medical problem. At the same time, many studies have dealt with allergic cross-reactions between aeroallergens and foods. In this context, there is clear evidence now on the existence of significant clinical association between latex and fruit allergies. Therefore, a latex-fruit syndrome has been postulated.Several studies have demonstrated that from 20% to 60% of latex-allergic patients show IgE-mediated reactions to a wide variety of foods, mainly fruits. Although implicated foods vary among the studies, banana, avocado, chestnut and kiwi are the most frequently involved. Clinical manifestations of these reactions may vary from oral allergy syndrome to severe anaphylactic reactions, which are not uncommon, thus remarking the clinical relevance of this syndrome.The diagnosis of food hypersensitivities associated to latex allergy is based on the clinical history of immediate adverse reactions, suggestive of an IgE-mediated sensitivity. Prick by prick test with the fresh foods implicated in the reactions shows an 80% concordance with the clinical diagnosis, and therefore it seems to be the best diagnostic test available nowadays in order to confirm the suspicion of latex-fruit allergy. Once the diagnosis is achieved, a diet free of the offending fruits is mandatory.Recently, some of the common allergens responsible for the cross-reactions among latex and the fruits most commonly implicated in the syndrome have been identified. Class I chitinases, with an N-terminal hevein like domain, which cross-react with the major latex allergen hevein, seem to be the panallergens responsible for the latex-fruit syndrome.

Síndrome látex-frutas / Latex-fruit syndrome

Durante la última década, la alergia al látex mediada por IgE ha sido reconocida como un problema médico de enorme trascendencia. Al mismo tiempo, numerosos estudios se han centrado en la reactividad cruzada entre alimentos y aeroalergenos. Recientemente, se ha postulado la existencia de un síndrome látex-frutas, al evidenciarse una asociación clínica significativa entre ambas reacciones alérgicas. Diversos trabajos han demostrado que entre un 20 y un 60% de los pacientes alérgicos a látex presentan reacciones medidas por IgE a una amplia variedad de alimentos, principalmente frutas como el plátano, el aguacate, la castaña y el kiwi. Las manifestaciones clínicas de estas reacciones pueden variar desde el síndrome de alergia oral hasta reacciones anafilácticas graves. Estas últimas no son infrecuentes, lo que pone de manifiesto la relevancia clínica del síndrome látex-frutas. El diagnóstico de la hipersensibilidad a alimentos asociada con alergia al látex, se basa en la historia clínica de reacciones adversas inmediatas en relación con su ingestión, sugestivas de ser mediadas por IgE. La prueba cutánea mediante prick con el alimento fresco muestra una concordancia del 80% con el diagnóstico clínico, siendo la mejor prueba de que disponemos en la actualidad para comprobar la sensibilización a alimentos de origen vegetal. Una vez confirmado el diagnóstico, el paciente debe realizar una dieta exenta de los alimentos a los que sea alérgico. Recientemente, se han logrado caracterizar algunos de los alergenos comunes responsables de las reacciones cruzadas entre el látex y las frutas. Estos panalergenos han resultado ser quitinasas de clase I, que al poseer un dominio heveína N-terminal, reaccionan de forma cruzada con el alergeno principal del látex, Hev b 6 (AU)

During the last decade, latex IgE-mediated allergy has been recognized as a very important medical problem. At the same time, many studies have dealt with allergic cross-reactions between aeroallergens and foods. In this context, there is clear evidence now on the existence of significant clinical association between latex and fruit allergies. Therefore, a latex-fruit syndrome has been postulated. Several studies have demonstrated that from 20% to 60% of latex-allergic patients show IgE-mediated reactions to a wide variety of foods, mainly fruits. Although implicated foods vary among the studies, banana, avocado, chestnut and kiwi are the most frequently involved. Clinical manifestations of these reactions may vary from oral allergy syndrome to severe anaphylactic reactions, which are not uncommon, thus remarking the clinical relevance of this syndrome. The diagnosis of food hypersensitivities associated to latex allergy is based on the clinical history of immediate adverse reactions, suggestive of an IgE-mediated sensitivity. Prick by prick test with the fresh foods implicated in the reactions shows an 80% concordance with the clinical diagnosis, and therefore it seems to be the best diagnostic test available nowadays in order to confirm the suspicion of latex-fruit allergy. Once the diagnosis is achieved, a diet free of the offending fruits is mandatory. Recently, some of the common allergens responsible for the cross-reactions among latex and the fruits most commonly implicated in the syndrome have been identified. Class I chitinases, with an N-terminal hevein like domain, which cross-react with the major latex allergen hevein, seem to be the panallergens responsible for the latex-fruit syndrome (AU)

Implicaciones de la alergia al látex / The implications of latex allergy

No disponible

[Eosinophilic gastritis: its spontaneous resolution]. / Gastritis eosinofílica: resolución espontánea.

A 34-year-old man presented with acute epigastric pain. Laboratory studies disclosed a total eosinophil count 7.7 x 10(9)/l. The pathological diagnosis was eosinophilic gastritis. There was a spontaneous resolution, and no treatment was required. Investigations for allergic disorders gave negative results.