4.1 | General findings
Two hundred forty-seven individuals (M 48.2%, F 51.8%; mean age 39 ± 17, range 2 - 79 years) enrolled in the 19 centers participating in the study, represented the study group.
Forty-four per cent (n= 108) of the patients came from the central-southern Italy , while the remaining 56% (n= 139) of cases had been recruited in northern Italy.
All patients selected for the study reported a clinical history suggesting an adverse reaction to crustaceans confirmed by positive in-vivo and/or in-vitro testing, but only 47.8% of them (n=118) reported adverse reactions after the ingestion of cephalopods or bivalves; of these, 38.5% (n=95) experienced urticaria/angioedema, and 9.3% (n=23) anaphylaxis.
No age and sex differences were detected concerning symptom severity.