Prevalence of shrimp allergy: a meta-analysis based on different diagnostic methods

Background Shrimp allergy (SA) represents a significant public health concern, yet its overall prevalence remains unclear. Method A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase through September 30, 2024 identified 40 studies that reported SA prevalence using self-reported symptoms, physician diagnosis, skin prick tests, specific IgE, or food challenge tests. Results The pooled prevalence was estimated at 1.90% for self-reported symptomatic SA and 1.94% for self-reported physician-diagnosed SA, while testing via skin prick or specific IgE yielded a prevalence of 2.76%. Notably, symptomatic testing showed a lower prevalence of 0.43%, and food challenge tests confirmed a prevalence of 0.50%. Considerable heterogeneity was observed across studies, with prevalence varying by region and age group, and no publication bias was detected. Conclusion These findings indicate that the prevalence of SA varies with diagnostic criteria, age, and region, underscoring the need for harmonized diagnostic standards to improve prevalence estimates and guide public health strategies. Systematic Review Registration identifier CRD420251003956.