Comparison between General Pediatricians and Other Sub-Specialty of Pediatrics Regarding Knowledge of CMPA

Abstract

Background: Food allergy is an adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly following exposure to a given food. The main cause of food allergies in children under three years old is Cow's Milk Protein (CMP). The estimated prevalence of Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) is 2% to 3% in the first year of life. An observational study conducted in pediatricians' offices revealed a gastroenterologist-diagnosed prevalence of 5% in the group of patients. Objective: to compare between general pediatricians and other sub-specialty of pediatrician regarding awareness of cow's milk protein allergy. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Pediatricians of both sexes of different subspecialties work in government facility with or without private facility and work in El-Sharkia Governorate. The sample size calculated using open Epi was 256 physicians. Results: This study showed that general pediatricians were 78.1%, gastroenterologists were 3.2%, immunologists were 2.7% and pulmonologists were 3.9%. There was a low level of knowledge about CMA among the studied group. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that there was a low knowledge about Cow's Milk Protein Allergy among pediatricians. We found a huge variability in general pediatricians and other sub-specialty of pediatrics regarding CMPA.