[Prevalence of sensitization to cow's milk and egg among patients with suspicion of IgE mediated diseases].

BACKGROUND

In Latin America, there are very few epidemiological data on food allergy and sensitization to milk and egg.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the frequency of sensitization to milk and egg in a population with suspicion of IgE mediated diseases.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A retrospective and descriptive study was made with patients who consulted to our service of Allergy, with suspicion of exacerbation of possible IgE mediated diseases when eat certain foods. All patients had skin prick test including the suspected foods and milk and egg. Each patient had a complete clinical history.

RESULTS

Sensitization to at less one food was present in 29.7% of patients. Egg sensitization occurred in 6.1% of patients and it was associated with asthma, rhinitis and gastrointestinal eosinophilia in children younger than five years. Milk sensitization was present in 4.5% and was not associated with any disease.

CONCLUSIONS

In Colombia, sensitization to milk and egg is relatively low compared to that reported in other studies with population with high risk of sensitization. Because of the association between sensitization of egg and the risk of having respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal eosinophilia, an egg sensitization could be and early marker of poor prognosis in atopic patients.