Frequency of food allergy in school‐aged children in eight European countries—The EuroPrevall‐iFAAM birth cohort

Abstract

Background The prevalence of food allergy (FA) among European school children is poorly defined. Estimates have commonly been based on parent‐reported symptoms. We aimed to estimate the frequency of FA and sensitization against food allergens in primary school children in eight European countries. Methods A follow‐up assessment at age 6‐10 years of a multicentre European birth cohort based was undertaken using an online parental questionnaire, clinical visits including structured interviews and skin prick tests (SPT). Children with suspected FA were scheduled for double‐blind, placebo‐controlled oral food challenges (DBPCFC). Results A total of 6105 children participated in this school‐age follow‐up (57.8% of 10 563 recruited at birth). For 982 of 6069 children (16.2%), parents reported adverse reactions after food consumption in the online questionnaire. Of 2288 children with parental face‐to‐face interviews and/or skin prick testing, 238 (10.4%) were eligible for a DBPCFC. Sixty‐three foods were challenge‐tested in 46 children. Twenty food challenges were positive in 17 children, including seven to hazelnut and three to peanut. Another seventy‐one children were estimated to suffer FA among those who were eligible but refused DBPCFC. This yielded prevalence estimates for FA in school age between 1.4% (88 related to all 6105 participants of this follow‐up) and 3.8% (88 related to 2289 with completed eligibility assessment). Interpretation In primary school children in eight European countries, the prevalence of FA was lower than expected even though parents of this cohort have become especially aware of allergic reactions to food. There was moderate variation between centres hampering valid regional comparisons.

Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life (APPEAL): the impact of peanut allergy on children, adolescents, adults and caregivers in France

“…2 Aimmune Therapeutics, 10 Eastbourne Terrace, London W2 6LG, UK. 3 Acaster Lloyd Consulting, Ltd, 16 Woburn Pl, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0BS, UK. 4 Brainsell Ltd, 4 Duke Street, Richmond TW9 1HP, UK.…”

“…Peanut allergy (PA) is one of the most common food allergies in Europe, previously estimated to have a prevalence of 0.65% in the French population [1]; however, prevalence continues to rise in Europe [2,3]. The MIRABEL survey, a large observational study conducted mainly in France including 785 children with PA [4], found that over a third of these patients also have tree nut sensitization or allergy and almost all PA patients (95%) have allergic comorbidities, with asthma (59%) and atopic dermatitis (66%) being the most common.…”

A study to assess current approaches of allergists in European countries diagnosing and managing children and adolescents with peanut allergy

“…The prevalence of food allergy (FA), and especially an allergy to peanuts, has increased in developed countries in recent years [1]. In European countries, the prevalence of FA among children aged 6 to 10 years is estimated to be between 1.4% to 3.8% [2].…”

Nahrungsmittelallergien bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

“…gische Diagnostik mit dem Endpunkt einer Nahrungsmittelprovokation, ergibt sich eine tatsächliche Prävalenz von nur noch ca. 2 % [1]. Betrachtet man das gesamte Kindes-und Jugendalter in unterschiedlichen Regionen, repräsentiert Kuhmilch das häufigste Nahrungsmittelallergen (0,5-4 %), gefolgt von Erdnuss (0,2-1,9 %), Nüssen (0,8-1,6 %), Meeresfrüchten inklusive Fisch (0,2-5,2 %) und Hühnerei (0,2-2 %).…”

“…Populationsbezogene epidemiologische Daten zur Nahrungsmittelallergie im Kindes-und Jugendalter liegen nur in begrenztem Umfang vor. Unlängst wurde eine populationsbezogene Studie in Europa veröffentlicht, die aber aufgrund der nur geringen Bereitschaft der Teilnehmer zur Durchführung einer Provokation zur Bestätigung der vermuteten Allergie nur eine große Streubreite bei den Resultaten zwischen 0,8 und 3,8 % angeben konnte [1]. Zusätzlich zeigen diese Ergebnisse ausgeprägte geografische Schwankungen, die auf unterschiedliche Ernährungsgewohnheiten der untersuchten Populationen und andere Umgebungsfaktoren (z.…”