Value of Intradermal Tests Compared To Diet Elimination and Provocation Test in the Diagnosis of Food Urticaria

Abstract

Out of 40 patients having urticaria suspected to be caused by foods, only 22 patients were relieved after elimination of one or more foods. The foods found responsible were rice, milk, moong, egg, potato, wheat, massoor, tea, lobia, orange, chicken and peas in that order of frequency. Intradermal tests to the corresponding food antigens were positive in only 46% of these cases. In 18 patients the urticaria was not relieved even by complete diet elimination and was therefore not being caused by any food. But I I of these patients showed positive intradennal tests to one or more antigens; once again indicating a poor correlation. Since the diet elimination and provocation test is far more reliable, this evidence is considered to explain at least partly, the poor results of treatment based on intradermal tests.