2021 Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages 135-144
Aim: We investigate natural history of egg allergy (EA) in Japan and identify risk factors for prolonged EA children.
Methods: EA children who diagnosed at Okinawa-kyodo hospital were enrolled in the EA cohort retrospectively. We evaluated the proportion of the children who acquired tolerance in each age and identified risk factors for prolonged EA children at the age of six.
Results: Two-hundred-ten children were enrolled in the cohort. The proportion of children who were released from egg elimination diet were 12% (2y.o.), 34% (3y.o.), 54% (4y.o.), 68% (5y.o.) and 79% (134/170) at 6 years old. We divided the children according to the status of EA at 6 years old into 3 groups: released group (n=134), prolonged group (n=36) and drop out group (n=40). Complete avoidance (CA) of egg products (odd's ratio: 13.80, P<0.01) and higher egg-white specific IgE titer (EW sIgE) at 1 year old (odd's ratio: 3.84, P<0.01) were significantly associated with prolonged EA, however no significant associations were observed in sex and history of anaphylaxis.
Conclusions: About 80% of EA children acquired tolerance by 6 years old in our cohort. CA of egg products and high EW sIgE at 1 year old were identified as risk factor of prolonged EA at 6 years old.
