Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Apr 5:4:34.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2016.00034. eCollection 2016.

Asthma and Food Allergy in Children: Is There a Connection or Interaction?

Carlo Caffarelli  1 , Marilena Garrubba  1 , Chiara Greco  1 , Carla Mastrorilli  1 , Carlotta Povesi Dascola  1
Affiliations
Review

Asthma and Food Allergy in Children: Is There a Connection or Interaction?

Carlo Caffarelli et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

This review explores the relationship between food allergy and asthma. They can share the same risk factors, such as parental allergy, atopic eczema, and allergen sensitization, and they often coincide in the same child. Coexistence may negatively influence the severity of both conditions. However, it remains to be determined whether food allergy may directly affect asthma control. An early food sensitization in the first year of life can predict the onset of asthma. Furthermore, asthmatic symptoms could rarely be caused by ingestion or inhalation of the offending food. Asthma caused by food allergy is severe and may be associated with anaphylactic symptoms. Therefore, an accurate identification of the offending foods is necessary in order to avoid exposure. Patients should be instructed to treat asthmatic symptoms quickly and to use self-injectable epinephrine.

Keywords: IgE; anaphylaxis; asthma; children; food allergy; skin prick test; wheezing.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Lai CK, Beasley R, Crane J, Foliaki S, Shah J, Weiland S, et al. Global variation in the prevalence and severity of asthma symptoms: phase three of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Thorax (2009) 64(6):476–83.10.1136/thx.2008.106609 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Caffarelli C, Coscia A, Ridolo E, Povesi Dascola C, Gelmetti C, Raggi V, et al. Parents’ estimate of food allergy prevalence and management in Italian school-aged children. Pediatr Int (2011) 53(4):505–10.10.1111/j.1442-200X.2010.03294.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Rona RJ, Keil T, Summers C, Gislason D, Zuidmeer L, Sodergren E, et al. The prevalence of food allergy: a meta-analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2007) 120(3):638–46.10.1016/j.jaci.2007.05.026 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dharmage SC, Lowe AJ, Matheson MC, Burgess JA, Allen KJ, Abramson MJ. Atopic dermatitis and the atopic march revisited. Allergy (2014) 69(1):17–27.10.1111/all.12268 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kusunoki T, Morimoto T, Nishikomori R, Heike T, Fujii T, Nakahata T. Allergic status of schoolchildren with food allergy to eggs, milk or wheat in infancy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol (2009) 20(7):642–7.10.1111/j.1399-3038.2009.00856.x - DOI - PubMed