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Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
Published in: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports 5/2016

01-05-2016 | Food Allergy (T Green, Section Editor)

Pearls and Pitfalls in Diagnosing IgE-Mediated Food Allergy

Authors: David R. Stukus, Irene Mikhail

Published in: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports | Issue 5/2016

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Abstract

The term “food allergy” is used by many patients and clinicians to describe a range of symptoms that occur after ingestion of specific foods. However, not all symptoms occurring after food exposure are due to an allergic, or immunologic, response. It is important to properly evaluate and diagnose immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy as this results in reproducible, immediate onset, allergic reactions that can progress toward life-threatening anaphylaxis. Proper diagnosis requires understanding of the common foods that cause these reactions in addition to key historical elements such as symptoms, timing and duration of reaction, and risk factors that may predispose to development of IgE-mediated food allergy. Diagnostic testing for food-specific IgE can greatly aid the diagnosis. However, false-positive test results are very common and can lead to overinterpretation, misdiagnosis, and unnecessary dietary elimination. This review discusses important aspects to consider during evaluation of a patient for suspected IgE-mediated food allergy.
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Metadata
Title
Pearls and Pitfalls in Diagnosing IgE-Mediated Food Allergy
Authors
David R. Stukus
Irene Mikhail
Publication date
01-05-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 1529-7322
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6315
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-016-0611-z

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