Name: Humoud Auoad Alhoraim
Teaching assistant at College of Medicine
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University
Al Kharj
Saudi Arabia
Name:Mofreh Alzahrani
Consultant at pediatric allergy & Immunology department
King Fahad Medical City
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
Name: Hadeel Alsarawi
Fellow at pediatric allergy & Immunology department
King Fahad Medical City
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
Most common food allergens and their association with other health conditions among children and adults in Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background: Limited data are available on the most common food allergens among children and adults in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to identify the most common food allergens in Saudi Arabia, the demographic characteristics and associated medical conditions among individuals with food allergies, and the effect of food allergies on health. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a sample of 100 pediatric and adult patients with food allergies (confirmed by a skin-prick test result >3 mm) who attended the outpatient allergy and immunology clinic at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2003 and 2022. The burden of food allergy was measured on a scale of 1–10. Results: The mean patient age was 19.8 ± 17.2 years. Of the participants, 51 were female, 48 were male, and 29 had asthma. The most common food allergens were peanuts (16.2%), egg (14.1%), cashew nuts (11.1%), pistachio nuts (9.1%), and sesame seeds (7.1%). The mean burden of food allergy was 6.4 ± 1.9. Conclusion: Food allergies are strongly associated with asthma. Peanuts, eggs, and cashew nuts are the most common causes of food allergy in children and adults attending the outpatient allergy and immunology clinic at King Fahad Medical City.
Keywords: Food Allergens, Peanuts, Eggs, Nuts, Asthma, Saudi Arabia
Download research pdf:
