More Adults Are Developing Food Allergies for the First Time in Their Lives

From CBS News:



6% of kids and 3% of adults may have food allergies.

There are a few inaccuracies in the video.

Get the facts right:

1. Generally, the skin prick test is 30% more sensitive than the blood IgE test (with a cuttoff point of 0.35).

Comparison of diagnostic methods for peanut, egg, and milk allergy - skin prick test (SPT) vs. specific IgE (sIgE) (click to see the spreadsheet). Sensitivity of blood allergy testing is 25-30% lower than that of skin testing, based on comparative studies (CCJM 2011).



2. If a person eats a food, without symptoms of food allergy, in most cases there is no need to stop the food even if the skin test or the blood test is positive.

See a board-certified allergist to get a correct diagnosis and the best possible care.

References:

Doctors Seeing More Adults Developing Allergies. CBS News.

Practical guide to skin prick tests in allergy to aeroallergens (free full text). Allergy, 2011.

Read more about allergic conditions: Asthma / Allergic Rhinitis / Food Allergy / Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) / Hives (Urticaria) / Angioedema / Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Drug Allergy / Anaphylaxis / Contact Dermatitis / Immunodeficiency