Arámburo-Gálvez JG, Sabaté MÁ, Wagner I, Alfonsina Dezar GV, Vergara-Jiménez MJ, Ontiveros N, Cabrera-Chávez F, Cárdenas-Torres FI

Language: English
References: 13
Page: 210-216
PDF size: 213.86 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: There is scarce information about the epidemiology of food allergy (FA) in the Latin America region and remains uncertain the magnitude and relevance of the problem. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of FA in schoolchildren from Santa Fe, Argentina. Material and Methods: A validated self-administered Spanish version of a structured questionnaire was utilized. Parents of 5-14- years-old children participated in the study. Results: 1,431 questionnaires were returned with valid responses (response rate of 35.3%). Prevalence estimations (CI, 95%) were as follows: “Adverse food reactions” 10.2% (8.7-11.9), “Perceived FA, ever” 9.7% (8.3-11.4), “Physician-diagnosed FA, ever” 4.8% (3.8-6), “Immediate-type FA, ever” 3.4% (2.6-4.5), “Immediate-type FA, current” 1.4% (0.9-2.1), “Food-induced anaphylaxis” 0.8% (0.5-1.5). The main foods triggering “Immediate-type FA, current” were: chocolate and chili (0.49% each, CI 95%: 0.24-1.01), followed by peanut, nuts and wheat (0.14% each, CI 95%: 0.04-0.51). Family history of allergic disease was positively related to ‘immediate-type FA, ever’ (P = 0.0002). Although eight out of 12 cases of anaphylaxis sought medical attention, only one of these cases reported the prescription of an epinephrine auto-injector. Conclusions: The data highlight that at least 1.4% of Argentinian schoolchildren experience adverse food reactions suggestive of immediate-type FA and that at least half of these cases need confirmatory testing and counseling by a health professional. Due to the low frequency of prescription of epinephrine auto-injectors in anaphylactic cases, the prescription of such devices should be encouraged among healthcare personnel.

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