The large multicenter Israeli study led by Dr. Idit Lachover-Roth, director of the hospital\u2019s allergy and clinical immunology unit, aimed to evaluate the risk of systemic allergic reactions following controlled skin exposure to common food allergens in children with confirmed FA.<\/p>\n
According to Lachover-Roth, the study was motivated by a desire to better understand what actually triggers significant allergic reactions in children with FA.<\/p>\n
DR. IDIT LACHOVER-ROTH (credit: RAMBAM HEALTH CARE CAMPUS)<\/p>\n
The study is one of the largest prospective studies of its kind to evaluate a broad range of allergenic foods under controlled conditions.<\/p>\n
The study was conducted at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba and Schneider Children\u2019s Medical Center<\/a> in Petah Tikva, which are both operated by Clalit Health Services.\u00a0<\/p>\n A total of 293 children and youths aged one to 18 were recruited from the allergy clinics at the two hospitals: 192 (65.5%) with confirmed FA comprised the study group, while 101 (34.5%) served as the control group.<\/p>\n Participants underwent patch testing in which the allergenic foods milk, peanuts, eggs, sesame, or tree nuts were applied to the forearm for 15 minutes. A total of 465 patch tests were performed: 263 in the FA group and 202 in the control group.<\/p>\n The study is about skin contact, not eating the food, and not necessarily about food residues ending up on hands, toys, or tables and then being transferred to the mouth.<\/p>\n Many kindergarten restrictions are intended to prevent accidental ingestion, which remains the major risk for anaphylaxis \u2013 a sudden, severe, and life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by breathing trouble, a drop in blood pressure, and swelling that demands immediate emergency care.<\/p>\n The findings, recently published in the international journal Acta Paediatrica under the title \u201cAccidental skin contact with food allergens does not trigger anaphylaxis in children: A prospective multicenter study,\u201d were both consistent and reassuring.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 83.7% of exposures, no reaction occurred \u2013 not even at the site of contact.<\/p>\n Just 15% of children developed only a mild localized skin reaction, such as redness or slight swelling at the contact site, and only three children had a somewhat more extensive skin reaction limited to the tested arm that cleared up after treatment with an antihistamine.<\/p>\n Most importantly, not a single child experienced anaphylaxis or any systemic allergic reaction.<\/p>\n Younger age was the strongest predictor of skin reactivity, with younger children more likely to develop a mild localized skin reaction. Children with milk allergies also had a slightly higher rate of localized reactions.<\/p>\n Even in these cases, however, no episodes of anaphylaxis were observed.<\/p>\n \u201cMany families live in a constant state of vigilance because they fear that even accidental skin contact with an allergenic food could lead to anaphylaxis,\u201d Lachover-Roth told The Jerusalem Post.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough a few previous studies have examined the effects of skin exposure, the question has never been investigated on this scale,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n \u201cOur findings, the result of three years of work, show that when allergenic food comes into contact with intact skin \u2013 even in children with confirmed food allergies \u2013 the risk of a serious reaction is extremely low, approaching zero.<\/p>\n \u201cThese results allow us to provide families with evidence-based guidance and help reduce fears that are not supported by scientific data.\u201d<\/p>\n