Dermatologic: Food allergy

Abstract

Cutaneous reactions to foods represent one of the most common presentations of food allergy in children. IgE-mediated (urticaria, angioedema, flushing, pruritus), cell-mediated (contact dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis), mixed IgE- and cell-mediated (atopic dermatitis), and nonimmune-mediated (irritant contact dermatitis, Frey's syndrome) reactions to foods have all been reported. It is important for the pediatrician to recognize the variety of skin reactions potentially related to food allergy and to consider timely referral to an allergy specialist for further evaluation and definitive diagnosis.