Ever Increasing Allergies to the Edible Seeds in Recent Years: Sesame Allergy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: While being reported more often than the other seeds, sesame allergy prevalance has been estimated 0.1-0.2 %. There have been limited studies about sesame allergy in children, and it is frequently in form of case reports. In our study, evaluating clinical and laboratory features in sesame allergy cases was aimed. METHODS: In our cross sectional-descriptive study, a retrospective review of 804 (%20.8) children who received evaluation by the diagnosis of food allergy and/or atopic dermatitis in a population of 3863 patients in pediatric allergy outpatient clinic from February 2017 to June 2019 has been conducted. Information including the demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms and laboratory examinations of 7 patients (0.87%) with sesame allergy were enrolled. RESULTS: The median age of 7 patients who were included in the study was 11 months and all were males. All the patients had symptoms of atopic dermatitis, there was accompanying anaphylaxis related to Cow's Milk Protein Allergy in one patient. Among the patients; median of eosinophil count was: 780 mm3, median of total IgE level was: 264 IU/L, median of sesame specific IgE level was: 2.7 IU/L. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: With the growing trend of using seeds such as sesame in our daily diet, hypersensitivity reactions are being reported with ever increasing ratios. Because of the frequent consumption, it keeps the importance in our country. A careful history taking, together with food allergy testing panels including edible seeds and diagnosis confirmation by challenge testing in the suspected cases may be contributing to the rise in diagnosing incidence of sesame allergy.

Keywords

• sesame allergy
• atopic dermatitis
• childhood