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Management of nut allergy influences quality of life and anxiety in children and their mothers

Management of nut allergy influences quality of life and anxiety in children and their mothers
Management of nut allergy influences quality of life and anxiety in children and their mothers
Nut allergy is known to impact on the quality of life (QoL) and anxiety of both the allergic child and their parents, but little is known about how the management of food allergy is associated with these variables. To investigate the impact of nut allergy on QoL and anxiety in mothers and children with nut allergy in order to identify management strategies that may influence these factors. Forty-one nut allergic children (age 6–16 yrs) and their mothers completed questionnaires to assess maternal and children's QoL (PedsQL™, WHOQOL-BREF, FAQL-PB), anxiety (SCAS, STAI) and perceived stress scale (PSS). Children also completed a nut allergy specific QoL questionnaire. Demographic data, details of previous reactions, test results and management plans were collected using parent-report questionnaires and hospital notes. Children with nut allergy had poorer emotional (p = 0.004), social (p = 0.043), and psychological (p = 0.006) QoL compared to healthy normative data. Maternal and child QoL and anxiety were not influenced by the severity of previous reactions. Mother and child reported lower anxiety (p = 0.043 and p < 0.001 respectively) when the child was prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector. Anxiety was not associated with whether the child carried the auto-injector or whether they strictly avoided traces of nuts in foods. Prescribing auto-injectors is associated with reduced anxiety for food allergic children and their mothers, but is not associated with improved adherence with medical management or reduced risk-taking behavior.
peanut allergy management, quality of life, anxiety
0905-6157
1-9
Cummings, Amanda J.
21f2bfd2-ff65-43f4-97b4-03d39ec2e6b3
Knibb, Rebecca C.
4e174598-9a4e-4bfa-9bb9-0bb0e85e63a6
Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, Michel
cce68767-8d78-45ad-bb00-3da4f83d4ea6
King, Rosemary M.
d114e82e-84a6-4a4b-83cd-18b39f5630e8
Roberts, Graham
ea00db4e-84e7-4b39-8273-9b71dbd7e2f3
Lucas, Jane S.A.
5cb3546c-87b2-4e59-af48-402076e25313
Cummings, Amanda J.
21f2bfd2-ff65-43f4-97b4-03d39ec2e6b3
Knibb, Rebecca C.
4e174598-9a4e-4bfa-9bb9-0bb0e85e63a6
Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, Michel
cce68767-8d78-45ad-bb00-3da4f83d4ea6
King, Rosemary M.
d114e82e-84a6-4a4b-83cd-18b39f5630e8
Roberts, Graham
ea00db4e-84e7-4b39-8273-9b71dbd7e2f3
Lucas, Jane S.A.
5cb3546c-87b2-4e59-af48-402076e25313

Cummings, Amanda J., Knibb, Rebecca C., Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, Michel, King, Rosemary M., Roberts, Graham and Lucas, Jane S.A. (2010) Management of nut allergy influences quality of life and anxiety in children and their mothers. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 21 (4), part 1, 1-9. (doi:10.1111/j.1399-3038.2009.00975.x). (PMID:20088863)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Nut allergy is known to impact on the quality of life (QoL) and anxiety of both the allergic child and their parents, but little is known about how the management of food allergy is associated with these variables. To investigate the impact of nut allergy on QoL and anxiety in mothers and children with nut allergy in order to identify management strategies that may influence these factors. Forty-one nut allergic children (age 6–16 yrs) and their mothers completed questionnaires to assess maternal and children's QoL (PedsQL™, WHOQOL-BREF, FAQL-PB), anxiety (SCAS, STAI) and perceived stress scale (PSS). Children also completed a nut allergy specific QoL questionnaire. Demographic data, details of previous reactions, test results and management plans were collected using parent-report questionnaires and hospital notes. Children with nut allergy had poorer emotional (p = 0.004), social (p = 0.043), and psychological (p = 0.006) QoL compared to healthy normative data. Maternal and child QoL and anxiety were not influenced by the severity of previous reactions. Mother and child reported lower anxiety (p = 0.043 and p < 0.001 respectively) when the child was prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector. Anxiety was not associated with whether the child carried the auto-injector or whether they strictly avoided traces of nuts in foods. Prescribing auto-injectors is associated with reduced anxiety for food allergic children and their mothers, but is not associated with improved adherence with medical management or reduced risk-taking behavior.

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Published date: June 2010
Keywords: peanut allergy management, quality of life, anxiety

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 72714
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/72714
ISSN: 0905-6157
PURE UUID: b5d23e23-6e5a-44e3-9e8c-131adddaae09
ORCID for Graham Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2252-1248
ORCID for Jane S.A. Lucas: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8701-9975

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Date deposited: 23 Feb 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:50

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Contributors

Author: Amanda J. Cummings
Author: Rebecca C. Knibb
Author: Michel Erlewyn-Lajeunesse
Author: Rosemary M. King
Author: Graham Roberts ORCID iD
Author: Jane S.A. Lucas ORCID iD

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