Keywords
Colombia
Anaphylaxis
food allergy
food hypersensitivity
food sensitization
How to Cite
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients undergoing open oral food challenge test for suspected food allergy at a referral center in Bogotá, Colombia.
METHODS: This was an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study based on a review of the medical records of pediatric and adult patients who underwent open oral food challenge testing for suspected food allergy at a referral center in Bogotá between January 2022 and June 2025. Demographic variables, allergy history, foods involved, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic methods used were described.
RESULTS: 253 oral food challenge tests were performed in 179 patients; 83% were children. The overall positivity rate was 15.4%, with the most frequent reactions to cow's milk (6.3%), egg (3.1%), legumes (1.5%), and fish (1.4%). Most reactions were mild, with a predominance of cutaneous and gastrointestinal symptoms. Only two cases of anaphylaxis were recorded (0.8%).
CONCLUSION: This study provides clinical evidence of food allergy in Colombia, demonstrating an allergenicity profile distinct from that of other regions. The findings reinforce the need to standardize diagnostic criteria in Colombia and promote multicenter studies that define predictive thresholds adapted to local contexts.
KEY WORDS: Oral food challenge; Colombia; Anaphylaxis; food allergy; food hypersensitivity; food sensitization.
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