2019 Volume 33 Issue 5 Pages 726-737
Background : In the management of food allergy, minimum necessary elimination of diet based on oral food challenge (OFC) is recommended.
Objective : To investigate safety and utility of OFC for infants
Methods : Retrospective analysis of OFCs performed for infants at Mie National Hospital from 2016 to 2018
Results : A total of 173 OFCs in 129 infants were analyzed. Tested foods were hen's egg (n＝100), milk (n＝38) and wheat (n＝35). The challenge dose was individually determined based not only on specific IgE levels but history and other factors. The OFC was positive in 18%, 32%, 26% for hen's egg, milk and wheat, respectively. Induced symptoms with Anaphylaxis Scoring Aichi≧15 points were observed in 8% (13/173), and 40 to less than 60 points were observed in 2% (3/173). No patients required intramuscular adrenaline. After OFC, the caregivers were instructed to give infants a safe amount of allergen food or continue elimination on diet based on the OFC results. Consequently, 99 of 141 cases who were on complete elimination diet before OFC safely consumed 0.1g or more of the allergen food at 3 months after OFC.
Conclusion : With individualized challenge dose, OFC can be safely performed for infants with food allergy.
