Prevalence of fish and shellfish allergy: a systematic review
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Accurate information on the prevalence of food allergy facilitates a more evidence-based approach to planning of allergy services and can identify important geographic variations. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review to assess the age-specific prevalence of fish and shellfish allergy worldwide. METHODS: Searches were conducted using Web of Science and PubMed. Population-based cross-sectional studies and cohort studies that examined the prevalence of fish and shellfish allergy (IgE mediated and non-IgE mediated) at an identifiable point in time were eligible for inclusion in the study. Reviewers extracted general study information and study design, type of food allergy considered, food(s) assessed, method of diagnosis, sampling strategy, and sample characteristics. Raw data were extracted and percentage prevalence and 95% confidence intervals calculated. RESULTS: A total of 7,333 articles were identified of which 61 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The prevalence of fish allergy ranged from 0% to 7% and the prevalence of shellfish allergy from 0% to 10.3%, depending on the method of diagnosis. Where food challenges were used, the prevalence for fish allergy was found to be 0% to 0.3% and for shellfish allergy was 0% to 0.9%. CONCLUSION: Few studies have established the prevalence of fish or shellfish allergy using the gold standard double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge criteria, with most instead relying on self-reported questionnaire-based methods. The limited data available suggest that fish allergy prevalence is similar worldwide; however, shellfish allergy prevalence may be higher in the Southeast Asia region.
Date Issued
2016-09-06
Date Acceptance
2016-07-11
Citation
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2016, 117 (3), pp.264-272.e4
ISSN
1534-4436
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
264
End Page
272.e4
Journal / Book Title
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Volume
117
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2016 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Allergy
Immunology
REPORTED FOOD ALLERGY
SKIN PRICK TEST
ADVERSE-REACTIONS
SEAFOOD ALLERGY
YOUNG-CHILDREN
UNITED-STATES
RISK-FACTORS
COMMON ALLERGENS
SCHOOL-CHILDREN
BIRTH COHORT
1107 Immunology
Publication Status
Published