The Natural History of Food Sensitization in Children with Atopic Dermatitis and the Prognostic Role of Specific Serum IgE

Background: The natural history and the prognostic factors for food tolerance in childhood atopic dermatitis(AD) are poorly understood. Objective: We aimed at investigating the natural course of egg and milk allergy in children affected by AD and food allergy and identifying if the persistence of allergy is associated with high specific serum IgE(sIgE). Methods: The retrospective study included 58 patients affected by AD, aged 9-16 months, with a first clinical examination between 1993 and 2002. Results: Patients with AD and allergy to hen’s egg(N=58) or cow’s milk(N=44) were studied. In most patients milk and egg tolerance was reached before school age, but it was achieved later in children with severe AD and high egg sIgE. Conclusions: The food tolerance is normally reached before school age and, at the time of diagnosis, levels of sIgE>5kU/L for hen’s egg are risk factors for a later tolerance achievement.