IgE-Mediated Fish Allergy in Children

Abstract

Fish allergy constitutes a severe problem worldwide. Its prevalence has been calculated as high as 7% in paediatric populations, and in many cases, it persists into adulthood with life-threatening signs and symptoms. The following review focuses on the epidemiology of Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated fish allergy, its pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and a thorough approach to diagnosis and management in the paediatric population. The traditional approach for managing fish allergy is avoidance and rescue medication for accidental exposures. Food avoidance poses many obstacles and is not easily maintained. In the specific case of fish, food is also not the only source of allergens; aerosolisation of fish proteins when cooking is a common source of highly allergenic parvalbumin, and elimination diets cannot prevent these contacts. Novel management approaches based on immunomodulation are a promising strategy for the future of these patients.

Keywords: allergen; basophil activation test; component resolved diagnosis; fish allergy; immunoglobulin E; management; oral food challenge; paediatrics; parvalbumin; skin prick test.

Figure 1

Taxonomic definition of the most commonly consumed fishes.

Figure 2

Algorithm modified from the article of Niggemann et al. for the diagnosis of IgE mediated fish allergy in children [147] (DBPCFC: double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge test).