Food Allergy: Molecular Basis and Clinical Practice

While first accounts of food allergy date back to antiquity, only in recent years has food allergy become recognized as one of the major allergic diseases. During the last decade the output of research papers on food allergy increased tremendously, and today, issues related to food allergies still attract a lot of attention among academics and the general public. Featuring contributions by world-renowned experts, this book presents the current concept, practice and recent advances in the field of food allergy. A comprehensive background section provides a historical retrospective and information on the immunological basis and epidemiology of food allergies. Main topics discussed include clinical aspects, diagnosis and management, allergen-based food allergies, and disease-based food allergies. Furthermore, nutritional aspects and diets, public policy and educational programs are covered as well as recent hot topics such as molecular-based allergen diagnosis, eosinophilic gastrointestinal food allergies and oral immunotherapy. Allergists, pediatricians, internists, dermatologists and general practitioners will find this publication an essential source of information as it provides in-depth insights into food allergies from childhood to adulthood.