RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Public Health Impact of Parent-Reported Childhood Food Allergies in the United States
JF Pediatrics
JO Pediatrics
FD American Academy of Pediatrics
SP e20181235
DO 10.1542/peds.2018-1235
VO 142
IS 6
A1 Gupta, Ruchi S.
A1 Warren, Christopher M.
A1 Smith, Bridget M.
A1 Blumenstock, Jesse A.
A1 Jiang, Jialing
A1 Davis, Matthew M.
A1 Nadeau, Kari C.
YR 2018
UL http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/6/e20181235.abstract
AB Video AbstractBACKGROUND: Childhood food allergy (FA) is a life-threatening chronic condition that substantially impairs quality of life. This large, population-based survey estimates childhood FA prevalence and severity of all major allergenic foods. Detailed allergen-specific information was also collected regarding FA management and health care use.METHODS: A survey was administered to US households between 2015 and 2016, obtaining parent-proxy responses for 38 408 children. Prevalence estimates were based on responses from NORC at the University of Chicago’s nationally representative, probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel (51% completion rate), which were augmented by nonprobability-based responses via calibration weighting to increase precision. Prevalence was estimated via weighted proportions. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate FA predictors.RESULTS: Overall, estimated current FA prevalence was 7.6% (95% confidence interval: 7.1%–8.1%) after excluding 4% of children whose parent-reported FA reaction history was inconsistent with immunoglobulin E–mediated FA. The most prevalent allergens were peanut (2.2%), milk (1.9%), shellfish (1.3%), and tree nut (1.2%). Among food-allergic children, 42.3% reported ≥1 severe FA and 39.9% reported multiple FA. Furthermore, 19.0% reported ≥1 FA-related emergency department visit in the previous year and 42.0% reported ≥1 lifetime FA-related emergency department visit, whereas 40.7% had a current epinephrine autoinjector prescription. Prevalence rates were higher among African American children and children with atopic comorbidities.CONCLUSIONS: FA is a major public health concern, affecting ∼8% of US children. However, >11% of children were perceived as food-allergic, suggesting that the perceived disease burden may be greater than previously acknowledged.