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Epidemiological evidence suggests that there is a link between asthma and food allergy. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of food allergy in asthmatic children and to evaluate a possible impact of food allergy on asthma severity. The study enrolled 103 asthmatic children (mean age: 11 years). Skin prick-test, dosage of specific IgE to a standardized panel of inhalant and food allergens and spirometric evaluation was made for each patient. Twenty-four (23%) patients presented food allergy, 75 (77%) were sensitized to at least one food. A lower rate of children with controlled symptoms was found in children with food allergy and a higher rate of persistent asthma was found in children sensitized to at least 4 foods. In conclusion, food allergy/sensitization should always be investigated in asthmatic children for its association with increasing severity (only in food sensitized patients) and reduced control of asthmatic symptoms.

Patients with atopic eczema present higher serum levels of total IgE and different pattern of cytokines, compared to nonatopic eczematous patients. This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFNγ, TNFα in eczematous children in relation to atopic and nonatopic form. We enrolled 45 eczematous children and 12 controls. Total IgE and specific IgE against principal food and inhalant allergens were evaluated by UniCap1000 and levels of cytokines by Cytometric Bead Array System. The geometric means of levels of IL-4 were higher in eczematous patients than controls (P=0.036). Serum levels of IL-10 and IFNγ were higher in nonatopic eczematous children than in atopic eczematous patients and controls (P= 0.004, P= 0.003). Our data confirm that cytokines may play an important role in the pathogenesis of eczema: nonatopic eczema seems to be characterized by increased levels of IL-10 and IFNγ compared to atopic form.