Abstract
BACKGROUND: In adult patients suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD), studies investigating the co-prevalence of AD and food allergy are still scarce, and exact data are not available. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the occurrence of food allergy to peanuts in significant relation to food hypersensitivity, inhalant allergy and to asthma bronchial and rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Altogether 332 patients of AD 14 year or older were included in the study. The complete dermatological and allergological examinations were performed in all included patients (including examination of specific immunoglobulin E, skin prick test to different food and inhalant allergens, anamnestic data about food reactions, evaluation of allergic rhinitis, and allergic asthma bronchiale). We evaluated whether there was some relation between the food allergy to peanuts and followed parameters. Pairs of these categories were entered in the contingency tables, and the Chi-square test for the relationship of these variables was performed with the level of significance set to 5%. RESULTS: Altogether 332 persons suffering from AD were included in the study of which 120 were male and 212 were female; the average age was 27.2 year. The significant relation between the allergy to peanuts and the occurrence of food hypersensitivity (FH) reactions to tomatoes, kiwi, apples, oranges, carrot and to the sensitization to grass, trees, mites, and the occurrence of rhinitis was found. CONCLUSION: The significant relation between the allergy to peanuts and the occurrence of FH reactions and the sensitization to inhalant allergens and rhinitis was found. The future studies may show if the decrease in food allergy to peanuts can lead to the decrease of the occurrence of other FH reactions and sensitization to inhalant allergens and rhinitis in AD patients.