Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most common food allergy (FA) in infancy, affecting approximately 2% of children under 4 years of age. According to recent studies, the increasing prevalence of FAs can be associated with changes in composition and function of gut microbiota or “dysbiosis”. Gut microbiota regulation, mediated by probiotics, may modulate the systemic inflammatory and immune responses, influencing the development of allergies, with possible clinical benefits. This narrative review collects the actual evidence of probiotics’ efficacy in the management of pediatric CMPA, with a specific focus on the molecular mechanisms of action. Most studies included in this review have shown a beneficial effect of probiotics in CMPA patients, especially in terms of achieving tolerance and improving symptoms.
Kiwifruit allergy is an emerging pathological condition in both general and pediatric populations with a wide range of symptoms linked to variable molecular patterns, justifying systemic and cross-reactions with other allergens (i.e., latex, pollen, and fruit). Skin prick test (SPT), specific serum IgE (Act d 1, Act d 2, Act d 5, Act d 8, and Act d 10) directed against five out of thirteen molecular allergens described in the literature, and oral test challenge with kiwifruit are available for defining diagnosis. The management is similar to that of other food allergies, mostly based on an elimination diet. Although kiwi allergy has been on the rise in recent years, few studies have evaluated the clinical characteristics and methods of investigating this form of allergy. Data collected so far show severe allergic reaction to be more frequent in children compared to adults. Therefore, the aim of this review is to collect the reported clinical features and the available association with specific molecular patterns of recognition to better understand how to manage these patients and improve daily clinical practice.
Food allergy (FA) affects approximately 6–8% of young children, with a peak prevalence at approximately one year of age. Tree nut and peanut allergies are among the main causes of anaphylaxis in the world. The gold standard for the diagnosis of FAs is the oral food challenge (OFC). Other diagnostic tests used in the clinical practice are skin prick tests (SPTs) and laboratory tests to measure out the presence of serum specific IgE (sIgE). In this narrative review, we collect the current evidence of the predictive value (PV) of SPTs and sIgE for the outcome of the OFCs. In literature, data are conflicting as to whether increasing sIgE concentration and wheal size in SPTs correlate with OFC outcomes. Most studies included in our review have shown that in vivo and in vitro tests may predict OFC outcomes with variable PV, but data are not conclusive; therefore, the OFC currently remains the gold standard for FA diagnosis.
Background: Food allergy (FA) is an emerging problem in pediatrics, with tree nuts and peanuts being frequent causes of severe reactions. Oral food challenge (OFC) remains the gold standard for diagnosing FA. However, it is a stressful treatment and not always risk-free. Objectives: To identify potential biomarkers, using component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) associated with OFC outcome in children with tree nut (hazelnut, walnut, almond, and pistachio) and peanut allergy, who live in central and southern Italy. Methods: Eighty-eight (1–18 years) children followed at the Pediatric Allergy Clinic of Policlinico Umberto I in Rome were included in this study. All patients underwent skin prick tests (SPTs), prick-by-prick (PbP) tests, and serum-specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE) measurement to allergenic components using CRDs. Results: In hazelnut allergy (n = 60 OFCs), OFC failure occurred in 41 children. Higher sIgE levels to Cor a 8 (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.17–3.55), Cor a 9 (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.37–5.00), and Cor a 14 (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.14–2.38) were all significantly associated with an increased probability of a positive OFC outcome. In peanut allergy (n = 30 OFCs), OFC failure occurred in 16 children. Ara h 9 was the only statistically significant predictor of OFC failure, showing a very wide confidence interval (OR, 95% CI: 1.116–484). For walnut, almond, and pistachio, sample sizes were insufficient to support inferential modeling. Conclusions: CRD biomarkers can stratify the likelihood of OFC reactions in pediatric FA, enhancing clinical decision-making and reducing unnecessary challenges.