Food allergy is a substantial and evolving public health issue, recently emerging over the last 10–15 yr as a ‘second wave’ of the allergy epidemic. It remains unclear why this new phenomenon has lagged decades behind the ‘first wave’ of asthma, allergic rhinitis and inhalant sensitization. In regions like Australia, which lead the respiratory epidemic, challenge‐proven IgE‐mediated food allergy now affects up to 10% of infants.

Although their parents were among the first generation to experience the large‐scale rise in allergic diseases, disorders of oral tolerance were previously uncommon. Of further concern, this ...

Author:Prescott S, Allen KJ.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011; 22: 155–160.
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