Food-induced urticaria.

Eriksson, Nils E.

This article presents information on food-induced urticaria. IgE-mediated food allergy is very seldom responsible for chronic urticaria. According to some aulhers, however, yeast as well as food additives may elicit or aggravate up to one third of such urticarias. Acute or intermittent urticaria is more often caused by foodstuffs, via immunological as well as other mechanisms. Urticaria is often the first symptom in anaphylactic reactions, elicited by foods. Avoidance of the offending food is of course, when possible, the ideal treatment. In the absence of a specific diagnosis, some diets can be tried, e.g. yeast free diet supplemented with nystatin or a diet free from additives. Oral cromoglycate will help a minority of patients with food hypersensitivity. Antihistamines are used for symptomatic treatment.

URTICARIA; SKIN inflammation; FOOD allergy; FOOD additives; IMMUNOLOGIC diseases; ANTIHISTAMINES; ANTIALLERGIC agents

Allergy, 1993, Vol 48, p48

0105-4538

Academic Journal

10.1111/1398-9995.ep14203253