Percepción de los padres sobre reacciones adversas a los alimentos en preescolares y escolares

Abstract

Objective: to gain preliminary information about the epidemiology of food allergies in Chile. Method: 2 800 questionnaires on adverse reactions to food among toddlers and school age children from different socioeconomic levels attending daily child care centers and basic schools at Santiago, Chile, were given to their parents or care givers Questionnaires were answered by 2 485 [88.75%] parents. Results: almost two fifths responcers (38.5%] reported adverse reactions to food in their children, and one third (29.8%) stooped ingestion of the specific food. Most frequent implicated foods were chocolate (31%), fish (16.4%), egg (15.9%), nuts (8.3%], banana (6.2%), fruits in general (5.1%) and with 4% legumes, pork one milk. Frequency of food intolerance was similar in male and female children but age distribution was skewed toward younger individuals. The higher frequencies of adverse reactions were found in preschool age children from low socioeconomic levels. Adverse food reactions attributed to milk are infrequent and do not change with age. Conclusion: gross perception of food intolerance in children urban children shows a similar patient than in other western countries.