The natural history of food sensitivity.

The natural history of food sensitivity has long been the subject of anecdotes about children "outgrowing" their problem, but prospective systematic studies are not easily found that document these opinions. Children who had had adverse reactions to foods during double-blind food challenges 1 to 7 yr prior to this study were evaluated. In children over 3 yr of age, 19% of the previously positive food challenges were negative at the time of the follow-up; in children 3 yr of age or younger, 44% of the food challenges that had been positive were negative. The data collected thus far suggest that children who have their food sensitivity diagnosed at older ages tend not to outgrow the problem. Skin testing was performed over a period of years on some of the subjects, and skin sensitization was found to be markedly persistent, even in subjects who could consume the sensitizing food without symptoms.