Abstract

Objective: The study was designed to find out the prevalence of rice allergy in Hyderabad, Sindh and adjoining areas and to investigate association of rice allergy with respiratory symptoms and serum IgE Levels in different age groups
Methodology: 407 questionnaires were filled by the patients had positive serum IgE response, diagnosed by the physician. Breakdown of positive IgE up to rice allergy in male and female was calculated and 30 rice allergic patients selected for further study. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to their age. Serum IgE levels was determined through ELISA and the association of Asthma with Serum IgE levels in different age groups (group A up to 25 years, group B 26-45 years, and group C > 45 years, was examined.
Results: Frequency of food allergy among male and female was found higher in female (62.5%) than male (37.5%) while in over all 407 patients it was 7.37%. A strong positive correlation coefficient of age with their serum IgE concentration, of rice allergic asthmatic patients was found in male age group up to 25 years and in female age group > 45 years (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: The response of rice allergy is not common in Hyderabad and adjoining areas. In young male respiratory symptoms were higher with elevated serum IgE level. In female asthma more likely developed after age 25.

Key words: Rice allergy, Demography, IgE level, Asthma