Nut sensitization profile in Southern Taiwan

Background/purpose: To evaluate the relationship between serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to peanuts/tree nuts and their clinical manifestations in atopic diseases. Method: Serum from people with the classical symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), or atopic dermatitis (AD) was collected for the measurement of serum-specific IgE to peanuts, cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, and coconuts. Cases with possible sensitization to these nuts (serum specific IgE ≧ 0.35 kU/L) were selected and their clinical relationships with physician-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis were analyzed. Result: Compared with non-sensitization group, people with peanut/tree nut sensitization have higher prevalence of atopic dermatitis, but no such difference noted in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. In the situation of asthma, people with sensitization to peanuts and Brazil nuts, but not other nuts, have higher prevalence of asthma than people without sensitization to any nut (p