Tonatiuh R. Bedolla-Pulido, Departamento de Pediatría, Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Diana I. Juárez-Luna, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Jaime Morales-Romero, Instituto de Salud Pública, Universidad de Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
Dante D. Hernández-Colín, Departamento de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
María E. Núñez-Núñez, Departamento de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Martín Bedolla-Barajas, Departamento de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Background: Although tropical fruits (TF) are an important part of the diet in many regions worldwide, epidemiological data on hypersensitivity to tropical fruits (HSTF) are scarce globally. Objective: To determine the prevalence of HSTF in adults, identify the most common symptoms and foods associated with it, and identify factors linked to its occurrence. Material and methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of Mexican adults to identify symptoms associated with TF consumption. Two study groups were formed: one without HSTF and another with HSTF. Results: A total of 930 adults participated in the study; 35 had HSTF (prevalence of 3.8%; 95%CI: 2.7-5.2). The kiwi (13/930, 1.4%), pineapple (8/930, 0.9%), and avocado (7/930, 0.8%) had the highest prevalence. The main symptoms caused by TF were pharyngeal tightness (15/35, 44.1%), oral itching (12/35, 34.3%), and lip itching (9/35, 25.7%). Multivariate analyses identified asthma (aOR: 3.46; p = 0.014), atopic dermatitis (aOR: 7.08; p = 0.002), and a family history of urticaria (aOR: 8.15; p < 0.001) as factors associated with HSTF. Conclusions: This study indicates that approximately 4% of surveyed adults experience symptoms after consuming TF and identifies asthma, atopic dermatitis, and a family history of urticaria as significant factors associated with HSTF.
Keywords: Food hypersensitivity. Adults. Cross-sectional study. Surveys and questionnaires. Risk factors.