Abstract
Methods. Research papers on the topic of cashew allergy were reviewed: 45 studies on the prevalence, symptoms of diagnosis, and treatment were selected and analyzed.
Results. Data on the occurrence frequency in different countries vary and range from 0.08% to 30% depending on the country. In addition, the indicators are higher in those countries where this nut is produced. In addition, an allergic reaction to cashews occurs more often in children, especially between the ages of 6 and 12 months, and the risk of allergies is more common in those children who were not introduced to the nut before 12 months of age. Manifestations of sensitization to cashews can range from itching in the oral cavity to severe anaphylactic reactions. However, among all anaphylaxis, cashew manifestations ranked fourth among children and adults and fifth only among children, and 75.5% of all immediate-type reactions to cashews were gastrointestinal symptoms. The best method of treating cashew allergy was considered to be the complete exclusion of nuts from the patient’s diet. However, as the popularity of this product grows, patients are increasingly faced with this problem.
Conclusions. The researchers examined the use of immunotherapy with oral, sublingual, epicutaneous, and subcutaneous administration of drugs. These treatment methods show high effectiveness in relation to therapeutic tactics for cashew allergy. In addition, omalizumab is an effective alternative treatment method, which shows a decrease in sensitivity to nuts by up to 88% and an increase in tolerance to 2,000 mg of protein by up to 100%. The subsequent efforts of researchers should be directed to the study of cashew allergy to better understand the process and optimize treatment and prevention.