Prospective studies in the natural history of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity5419
The study of the natural history of @entity5419 is hindered by the lack of a reliable method of diagnosing @entity5419 except through oral challenge. This need raises a conflict between the need to document continued sensitivity and the effects of these repeated challenges not only on the natural history but also on the immediate induction of symptoms especially in the highly sensitive @entity1 . Despite this difficulty, a number of investigators have provided data on a total of 177 @entity1 and @entity1 who were subjected to repeated challenges. In only a few reports were these repeated challenges carried out in rigorous double-blind protocol. When the challenges were repeated, the results did not differ from the group as a whole. These studies agree that the prognosis in @entity5419 is excellent, with 60% to 73% of @entity1 losing their food sensitivity in the first year and 26% to 53% of older @entity1 eventually remitting. The specific food causing symptoms (egg, milk, soy, etc) affected the prognosis but the intensity of IgE-mediated sensitization as indicated by skin testing or RAST did not. The data regarding the loss of immunologic tests as symptoms subsided differed from study to study. This may be due to the age at which @entity1 were first studied varied widely or because the compliance with dietary restrictions in the various studies varied. Finally, a large majority of @entity1 developed respiratory symptoms to inhalant allergens at the same time their food-related symptoms disappeared.
