Preliminary survey on status of food allergy in young Chinese students

To get epidemiologic data of food allergy in China, 4 052 students from China Medical University was surveyed by questionaire and skin prick test. In addition, the relationship between allergenic foods and symptoms was analyzed. 3 974 (98 1%)effective responses were received to the questionaires. Two hundred and twenty seven students(5 7%) had suffered food allergy once at least. Seventy six students (33 5%) of them showed positive reaction in skin prick test. There was no statistic difference in incidence between sexes. The students allergic to fish and seafoods had similar symptoms, mostly as rash and skin tickle, and those who were allergic to shellfish, milk, and egg mainly had indigestion. The results indicate that about 6% of subjects in the 15～24 age group suffered food allergy once at least, the major allergenic foods are seafoods, milk and egg and the major symptoms of food allergy are rash and indigestion.