Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2013 Sep;1(3):266-273. 10.4168/aard.2013.1.3.266.

Survey of food allergy in elementary school children in Bucheon-city and relationship between food allergy and other allergic diseases

• Park JY
• Park GY
• Han YS
• Shin MY

• KMID: 2262970
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2013.1.3.266

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to evaluate the current status of food allergy (FA) and to analyze the relationship between allergy to individual foods and other allergic diseases in elementary school children.
METHODS
We performed a questionnaire survey for FA, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis using International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires. A total of 1,929 students in 3 elementary schools were enrolled.
RESULTS
A total of 324 students (16.8%) had ever suffered from FA symptoms more than once. Only 64 out of 324 students (19.8%) were diagnosed with FA by doctors. The presence of soy allergy was associated with the increased risk of bronchial asthma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87 to 18.59). The presence of egg (aOR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.52) and wheat allergy (aOR, 5.45; 95% CI, 1.94 to 15.36) were associated with the increased prevalence of allergic rhinitis. The allergic symptoms to fruits/tomato was associated with the increased risk of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms (aOR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.18 to 7.47). The allergic symptoms to egg (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.22 to 4.29), wheat (aOR, 4.91; 95% CI, 1.86 to 12.95), and shrimp/crab (aOR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.37 to 4.49) were associated with the presence of atopic dermatitis.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of FA of elementary school students in Bucheon-city was 16.8%. A significant positive association between the suspected foods and the other allergic diseases was found. Soy allergy was significantly correlated to having bronchial asthma and fruits/tomato allergy correlated with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Keyword

Food allergy; Elementary school children

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Child
Dermatitis, Atopic
Food Hypersensitivity
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Odds Ratio
Ovum
Prevalence
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Triticum
Wheat Hypersensitivity
Surveys and Questionnaires