Epidemiological study of food allergy in a population of argentine children

Abstract

Introduction: Food allergies affect mostly children in their first years of life. Epidemiological data obtained in Argentina are scarce. Objectives: To determine offending foods and describe the prevalence and characteristics of patients with food allergy in an Argentine pediatric population. Patients and methods: Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study on patients younger than 18 years. Results: A total of 321 patients were included; food allergy was confirmed in 64% (207) of cases. A n immunoglobulin E-mediated mechanism was observed in 53 % (109); cow's milk protein allergy, in 68 % (140); egg allergy, in 20 % (41); and anaphylaxis as clinical manifestation, in 12 % (24). The overall prevalence of food allergy was 0.87 % (95 % confidence interval: 0.7-0.9). Conclusions: The overall prevalence of food allergy was 0.87 %. Cow's milk was the main allergen, even among adolescents. Key words: food hypersensitivity, child, adolescent, epidemiology.