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Abstract
The world-wide problem of peanut allergy is underestimated in our country. We sought to screen for peanut
allergy in a group of Egyptian infants and children with different allergic manifestations to estimate the relation of their phenotypic manifestations to peanut sensitization. We consecutively enrolled 100 subjects from the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Unit, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams
University. The study measurements were performed in the same site and in the Allergen Detection/Immunology unit of
VACSERA during the period from 1/10/2006 to 31/8/2007. An informed consent was obtained from the parents or care-givers
prior to enrollment. Detailed history was taken for the duration and severity
of symptoms, possible precipitating factors, response to treatment and family history of allergy. A clinical examination was conducted to verify the diagnosis and exclude other chronic
illness. The study measurements included skin prick testing with a commercial peanut extract, serum peanut specific IgE and total IgE estimation, and complete blood counting. Children
who were found sensitized to peanuts were subjected to an open oral challenge test in the study site under close observation taking all the necessary precautions.
The study revealed that 7 subjects were sensitized and three out of 6 of them were actually allergic to peanuts. Peanut sensitization did not vary significantly with gender, age, family
history of allergy, breast feeding duration, age at which breast feeding was stopped, total IgE, or absolute eosinophilic count.
The time elapsing since last peanut consumption did not influence the frequency of sensitization neither did the site of allergic disorder. However, most sensitized patients had skin
with or without respiratory allergy. A positive correlation was elicited between the peanut SPT wheal diameter and the histamine flare diameter which means that the more the patient is peanut sensitive the more is his skin reaction to histamine.