Sesame seed sensitization in a group of atopic Egyptian children

Background: There are no published data on the prevalence of sesame allergy/sensitization in Egypt. Objective: In this pilot study, we thought to estimate the frequency of sesame seed sensitization in a group of atopic Egyptian infants and children. Methods: We consecutively enrolled 90 patients with physician diagnosed allergic disease. The study measurements included clinical evaluation for the site and duration of allergy, history suggestive of sesame seed allergy, and family history of allergy, as well as skin prick testing (SPT) using a commercial sesame extract, and serum sesame specific IgE (SpIgE) estimation. Results: None of the studied patients reported symptoms suggestive of sesame seed allergy. Nevertheless, two children (2.2%) showed positive SPT response to sesame (wheal diameter >= 3 mm above the negative control). Only one of them had a wheal diameter which exceeded that of the histamine control. The serum sesame SpIgE exceeded 0.35 IU/ml in all subjects [range = 0.35 - 3.0 IU/ml; median (IQR) = 0.9 (0.6) IU/ml]. Serum sesame SpIgE was significantly increased in patients with history of recurrent urticaria (p=0.03). Conclusion: Sesame seed sensitization is not uncommon in atopic Egyptian children. It can be associated with any clinical form of allergy and the causal relationship needs meticulous evaluation. Wider scale population-based studies are needed to assess the prevalence of sesame allergy and its clinical correlates in our country.