Food, drug, insect sting allergy, and anaphylaxis
A population-based study on peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, and sesame allergy prevalence in Canada

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.03.015Get rights and content
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Background

Recent studies suggest an increased prevalence of food-induced allergy and an increased incidence of food-related anaphylaxis. However, prevalence estimates of food allergies vary considerably between studies.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, and sesame allergy in Canada.

Methods

Using comparable methodology to Sicherer et al in the United States in 2002, we performed a cross-Canada, random telephone survey. Food allergy was defined as perceived (based on self-report), probable (based on convincing history or self-report of physician diagnosis), or confirmed (based on history and evidence of confirmatory tests).

Results

Of 10,596 households surveyed in 2008 and 2009, 3666 responded (34.6% participation rate), of which 3613 completed the entire interview, representing 9667 individuals. The prevalence of perceived peanut allergy was 1.00% (95% CI, 0.80%-1.20%); tree nut, 1.22% (95% CI, 1.00%-1.44%); fish, 0.51% (95% CI, 0.37%-0.65%); shellfish, 1.60% (95% CI, 1.35%-1.86%); and sesame, 0.10% (95% CI, 0.04%-0.17%). The prevalence of probable allergy was 0.93% (95% CI, 0.74%-1.12%); 1.14% (95% CI, 0.92%-1.35%); 0.48% (95% CI, 0.34%-0.61%); 1.42% (95% CI, 1.18%-1.66%); and 0.09% (95% CI, 0.03%-0.15%), respectively. Because of the infrequency of confirmatory tests and the difficulty in obtaining results if performed, the prevalence of confirmed allergy was much lower.

Conclusion

This is the first nationwide Canadian study to determine the prevalence of severe food allergies. Our results indicate disparities between perceived and confirmed food allergy that might contribute to the wide range of published prevalence estimates.

Key words

Food allergy
peanut allergy
tree nut allergy
fish allergy
shellfish allergy
sesame allergy
perceived food allergy
probable food allergy
confirmed food allergy

Abbreviations used

IQR
Interquartile range
SPT
Skin prick test
UK
United Kingdom

Cited by (0)

Supported by the Allergy, Genes, and Environment (AllerGen) Network of Centres of Excellence, Health Canada. M.B.-S. was partially supported by the Ross Fellowship from the Research Institute of the Montreal Children's Hospital, and D.H. is supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council fellowship. L.J. and A.E.C. are National Scholars of the Fonds de la recherché en santé du Quebec.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: A. E. Clarke has received research support from AllerGen NCE and Health Canada. The rest of the authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.