prognosis of food allergy

Last reviewed 01/2018

  • most children lose their sensitivity to allergenic foods within the first 3-5 years of life
  • infants with non-IgE mediated allergy to milk and soya generally achieve tolerance during the second year of life
  • if an infant has an IgE mediated allergy (e.g. to milk, soya, egg or wheat) then about 85% of children grow out of their allergy by the five years of age
    • induction of tolerance is accompanied by a fall in food-specific IgE levels
  • if however a child has an allergy to nuts or seafood then this is rarely lost and there is a persistence of immediate hypersensitivity into adult life
    • about 20% of children do outgrow their allergy to nuts but are younger than 2 years of age at presentation, have few additional food allergies, mild initial reactions, declining specific IgE and a long interval (>3 years) since the last reaction

     

Reference:

  1. Pulse (March 26th 2005): 50-57.
  2. Sicherer SH.Food allergy. The Lancet 2002; 360(9334):701-710