ADVERSE REACTIONS TO FOOD IN ADULTS

This study was carried out to assess the occurrence of food hypersensi tivity (type I) in adults. The diagnosis of food allergy, based on sug gestive history and positive skin prick test and/or RAST, was establis hed in 30 (0.98%) of 3034 patients over 14 years of age who were atten ded between June 1992 and March 1993. The foods implicated were as fol lows: fruit (46.8%), dried fruits (19.1%), seafood (14.9%), vegetables (12.8%), fish (4.2%) and chicken eggs (2.1%). This study confirmed th e low occurrence of food allergy in adulthood. The differences found w ith regard to the sensitizing foods (cow's milk and eggs were infreque nt; fruit, seafood and vegetables were common) may be attributed to di etary habits in our geographical region.