Abstract
The Oral Food Challenge test, hereafter called OFC, is spreading throughout the entire country thanks to the publication of recent guidelines (Japanese Pediatric Guideline for Food Allergy 2005, Japanese Pediatric Guideline for Oral Food Challenge test in Food Allergy 2009). However, its main constituents are made up of those participating upon admission to a hospital. We herein report on the method/outcome of 333 OFC performed in 2010 at the outpatient department of our private clinic. The subjects consisted of 333 cases (164 patients: 107 male and 57 female) who underwent OFC from January to October of 2010. The ages ranged from 10 months old to 22 years old. A sufficient explanation was provided to the patients regarding the method, risks, etc., prior to the challenge, and consent was obtained. Single-day, multiple-dose administration was carried out in 30-minute intervals using an open method. The tested food was occupied, in order of: 45.6% to hen's egg, 22.5% to milk, and 11.4% to wheat, making up approximately 80% of all foods. 149 cases (45.4%) were judged as positive, with 95.3% showing skin manifestations, 24.2% showing respiratory symptoms, and 10.7% showing gastrointestinal symptoms. Anaphylaxis was observed in 34 cases (10.2%), and an intramuscular injection of adrenaline was applied in 14 cases (41.2%). Subsequent dietary interventions were conducted depending on the outcome of OFC. It is believed that a safe and reliable OFC can be carried out in the private outpatient clinic as well, by devising a method of OFC and then promptly treating any induced symptoms.
