Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergy

Abstract Background Food allergy affects up to 6% of the population and emergency department visits due to accidental food‐allergic reactions are increasing. This study evaluated accidental allergic reactions outside the hospital and the number of hospitalizations in food allergic patients as well a...

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Main Authors: Sebastian Vigand Svendsen, Annemarie Schaeffer Senders, Athamaica Ruiz Oropeza, Annmarie Lassen, Carsten Bindslev‐Jensen, Charlotte G. Mortz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Clinical and Translational Allergy
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/clt2.70067
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author Sebastian Vigand Svendsen
Annemarie Schaeffer Senders
Athamaica Ruiz Oropeza
Annmarie Lassen
Carsten Bindslev‐Jensen
Charlotte G. Mortz
author_facet Sebastian Vigand Svendsen
Annemarie Schaeffer Senders
Athamaica Ruiz Oropeza
Annmarie Lassen
Carsten Bindslev‐Jensen
Charlotte G. Mortz
author_sort Sebastian Vigand Svendsen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Food allergy affects up to 6% of the population and emergency department visits due to accidental food‐allergic reactions are increasing. This study evaluated accidental allergic reactions outside the hospital and the number of hospitalizations in food allergic patients as well as the pattern before and after the diagnosis of food allergy by oral food challenge (OFC). Methods An electronic questionnaire concerning accidental allergic reactions was sent to 785 patients with challenge verified peanuts, hazelnuts, cow's milk and/or hen's egg allergies at the Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Results In total, 51% (402/785) responded. Among the 357 who reported at least one accidental allergic reaction, 51.5% (184/357) reported a total of six or less reactions, whereas 22.4% (80/357) had experienced a total of ≥21 reactions. Skin symptoms were commonly reported by children/adolescents (n = 277), whereas symptoms from all other organ systems were more frequently reported by adults (n = 80). In total, 61.6% (220/357) experienced at least one accidental allergic reaction, requiring immediate medical attention, which decreased from 77.3% (170/220) before to 55% (121/220) after establishment of the food allergy diagnosis by OFC. A concomitant proportional increase in the number of hospitalizations was identified (63.5% (108/170) to 72.7% (88/121)). Limitations: We had no exact data on the timing of the accidental allergic reactions for the individual allergens. Conclusion Accidental food‐allergic reactions are common and often severe. After the diagnostic OFC, the number of patients with reactions decreased, and the proportion of hospitalizations increased, indicating improved disease and healthcare management.
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spelling doaj-art-7f00f5c4d50e4e2fb49ae33e887caa1d2025-08-20T03:30:01ZengWileyClinical and Translational Allergy2045-70222025-06-01156n/an/a10.1002/clt2.70067Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergySebastian Vigand Svendsen0Annemarie Schaeffer Senders1Athamaica Ruiz Oropeza2Annmarie Lassen3Carsten Bindslev‐Jensen4Charlotte G. Mortz5Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre Odense University Hospital University of Southern Denmark Odense DenmarkDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy Centre Odense University Hospital University of Southern Denmark Odense DenmarkDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy Centre Odense University Hospital University of Southern Denmark Odense DenmarkDepartment of Emergency Medicine Odense University Hospital Odense DenmarkDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy Centre Odense University Hospital University of Southern Denmark Odense DenmarkDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy Centre Odense University Hospital University of Southern Denmark Odense DenmarkAbstract Background Food allergy affects up to 6% of the population and emergency department visits due to accidental food‐allergic reactions are increasing. This study evaluated accidental allergic reactions outside the hospital and the number of hospitalizations in food allergic patients as well as the pattern before and after the diagnosis of food allergy by oral food challenge (OFC). Methods An electronic questionnaire concerning accidental allergic reactions was sent to 785 patients with challenge verified peanuts, hazelnuts, cow's milk and/or hen's egg allergies at the Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Results In total, 51% (402/785) responded. Among the 357 who reported at least one accidental allergic reaction, 51.5% (184/357) reported a total of six or less reactions, whereas 22.4% (80/357) had experienced a total of ≥21 reactions. Skin symptoms were commonly reported by children/adolescents (n = 277), whereas symptoms from all other organ systems were more frequently reported by adults (n = 80). In total, 61.6% (220/357) experienced at least one accidental allergic reaction, requiring immediate medical attention, which decreased from 77.3% (170/220) before to 55% (121/220) after establishment of the food allergy diagnosis by OFC. A concomitant proportional increase in the number of hospitalizations was identified (63.5% (108/170) to 72.7% (88/121)). Limitations: We had no exact data on the timing of the accidental allergic reactions for the individual allergens. Conclusion Accidental food‐allergic reactions are common and often severe. After the diagnostic OFC, the number of patients with reactions decreased, and the proportion of hospitalizations increased, indicating improved disease and healthcare management.https://doi.org/10.1002/clt2.70067accidental allergic reactionallergic reactionsanaphylaxisfood allergyoral food challenge
spellingShingle Sebastian Vigand Svendsen
Annemarie Schaeffer Senders
Athamaica Ruiz Oropeza
Annmarie Lassen
Carsten Bindslev‐Jensen
Charlotte G. Mortz
Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergy
Clinical and Translational Allergy
accidental allergic reaction
allergic reactions
anaphylaxis
food allergy
oral food challenge
title Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergy
title_full Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergy
title_fullStr Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergy
title_full_unstemmed Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergy
title_short Self‐reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge‐verified food allergy
title_sort self reported accidental allergic reactions among patients with challenge verified food allergy
topic accidental allergic reaction
allergic reactions
anaphylaxis
food allergy
oral food challenge
url https://doi.org/10.1002/clt2.70067
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AT athamaicaruizoropeza selfreportedaccidentalallergicreactionsamongpatientswithchallengeverifiedfoodallergy
AT annmarielassen selfreportedaccidentalallergicreactionsamongpatientswithchallengeverifiedfoodallergy
AT carstenbindslevjensen selfreportedaccidentalallergicreactionsamongpatientswithchallengeverifiedfoodallergy
AT charlottegmortz selfreportedaccidentalallergicreactionsamongpatientswithchallengeverifiedfoodallergy