Childhood food allergy: a Singaporean perspective

Ann Acad Med Singap. 2010 May;39(5):404-11.

Abstract

Food allergy is defined as reaction to a food which has an immunologic mechanism. Its prevalence is increasing in children globally and is therefore of increasing clinical importance. A useful clinical approach is to distinguish food allergic reactions by the timing of clinical reaction in relation to food exposure and classified as immediate (generally IgE-mediated) and delayed (generally non-IgE-mediated), with the exception of eczema and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, which, when associated with food allergy may be associated with either mechanism. This review is aimed at providing the clinician with a Singaporean perspective on the clinical approach and management of these disorders.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Eczema / diagnosis
  • Eczema / immunology*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / diagnosis*
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / prevention & control
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Skin Test End-Point Titration

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin E