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Prevalence and cumulative incidence of food hypersensitivity in the first 3 years of life

Prevalence and cumulative incidence of food hypersensitivity in the first 3 years of life
Prevalence and cumulative incidence of food hypersensitivity in the first 3 years of life
Background: prevalence and incidence of food hypersensitivity (FHS) and its trends in early childhood are unclear.

Methods: a birth cohort born on the Isle of Wight (UK) between 2001 and 2002 was followed-up prospectively. Children were clinically examined and skin prick tested at set times and invited for food challenges when indicated.

Results: nine hundred and sixty-nine children were recruited and 92.9%, 88.5% and 91.9% of them respectively were assessed at 1, 2 and 3 years of age. Prevalence of sensitization to foods was 2.2%, 3.8% and 4.5% respectively at these ages. Cumulatively, 5.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9-7.1] children were sensitized to a food. Using open food challenge and a good clinical history, the cumulative incidence of FHS was 6.0% (58/969, 95% CI: 4.6-7.7). Based on double-blinded, placebo-controlled, food challenge (DBPCFC) and a good clinical history, the cumulative incidence was 5.0% (48/969, 95% CI: 3.7-6.5). There is no evidence to suggest that the incidence of FHS has increased, comparing these results with previous studies. Overall, 33.7% of parents reported a food-related problem and of these, 16.1% were diagnosed with FHS by open challenge and history and 12.9% by DBPCFC and history. Main foods implicated were milk, egg and peanut.

Conclusions: by the age of 3 years, 5-6% of children suffer from FHS based on food challenges and a good clinical history. There were large discrepancies between reported and diagnosed FHS. Comparing our data with a study performed in the USA more than 20 years ago, there were no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of FHS.
food allergy, food hypersensitivity, food intolerance, incidence, prevalence
0105-4538
354-359
Venter, C.
aaf31576-d0ee-49d7-93aa-e7bc0a18f31a
Pereira, B.
f3e9b5de-416d-49b0-a124-8b2631ecdfea
Voigt, K.
e1a7344d-3f64-49a4-91a8-b0dcaa63bb65
Grundy, J.
6a4aac31-2aeb-4f17-9848-9b88dd2f2c74
Clayton, C.B.
e8cf67b4-4bc0-4e46-90f9-684c0103e59a
Higgins, B.
c0301151-ff69-4e06-924d-aadf9c427805
Arshad, S.
917e246d-2e60-472f-8d30-94b01ef28958
Dean, T.
4a68a12c-bf67-4157-87c9-71e1ea6c94db
Venter, C.
aaf31576-d0ee-49d7-93aa-e7bc0a18f31a
Pereira, B.
f3e9b5de-416d-49b0-a124-8b2631ecdfea
Voigt, K.
e1a7344d-3f64-49a4-91a8-b0dcaa63bb65
Grundy, J.
6a4aac31-2aeb-4f17-9848-9b88dd2f2c74
Clayton, C.B.
e8cf67b4-4bc0-4e46-90f9-684c0103e59a
Higgins, B.
c0301151-ff69-4e06-924d-aadf9c427805
Arshad, S.
917e246d-2e60-472f-8d30-94b01ef28958
Dean, T.
4a68a12c-bf67-4157-87c9-71e1ea6c94db

Venter, C., Pereira, B., Voigt, K., Grundy, J., Clayton, C.B., Higgins, B., Arshad, S. and Dean, T. (2008) Prevalence and cumulative incidence of food hypersensitivity in the first 3 years of life. Allergy, 63 (3), 354-359. (doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01570.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: prevalence and incidence of food hypersensitivity (FHS) and its trends in early childhood are unclear.

Methods: a birth cohort born on the Isle of Wight (UK) between 2001 and 2002 was followed-up prospectively. Children were clinically examined and skin prick tested at set times and invited for food challenges when indicated.

Results: nine hundred and sixty-nine children were recruited and 92.9%, 88.5% and 91.9% of them respectively were assessed at 1, 2 and 3 years of age. Prevalence of sensitization to foods was 2.2%, 3.8% and 4.5% respectively at these ages. Cumulatively, 5.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9-7.1] children were sensitized to a food. Using open food challenge and a good clinical history, the cumulative incidence of FHS was 6.0% (58/969, 95% CI: 4.6-7.7). Based on double-blinded, placebo-controlled, food challenge (DBPCFC) and a good clinical history, the cumulative incidence was 5.0% (48/969, 95% CI: 3.7-6.5). There is no evidence to suggest that the incidence of FHS has increased, comparing these results with previous studies. Overall, 33.7% of parents reported a food-related problem and of these, 16.1% were diagnosed with FHS by open challenge and history and 12.9% by DBPCFC and history. Main foods implicated were milk, egg and peanut.

Conclusions: by the age of 3 years, 5-6% of children suffer from FHS based on food challenges and a good clinical history. There were large discrepancies between reported and diagnosed FHS. Comparing our data with a study performed in the USA more than 20 years ago, there were no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of FHS.

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More information

Published date: March 2008
Keywords: food allergy, food hypersensitivity, food intolerance, incidence, prevalence

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 145777
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/145777
ISSN: 0105-4538
PURE UUID: 0fad0b52-7eda-47db-bfbc-a20d08082829

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Date deposited: 19 Apr 2010 14:19
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 00:51

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Contributors

Author: C. Venter
Author: B. Pereira
Author: K. Voigt
Author: J. Grundy
Author: C.B. Clayton
Author: B. Higgins
Author: S. Arshad
Author: T. Dean

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