The prevalence of food allergy and other allergic diseases in early childhood in a population-based study: HealthNuts age 4-year follow-up

Background The HealthNuts study previously reported interim prevalence data showing the highest prevalence of challenge-confirmed food allergy in infants internationally. However, population-derived prevalence data on challenge-confirmed food allergy and other allergic diseases in preschool-aged chi...

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Published in:	Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2017-07, Vol.140 (1), p.145-153.e8
Main Authors:	Peters, Rachel L., PhD, Koplin, Jennifer J., PhD, Gurrin, Lyle C., PhD, Dharmage, Shyamali C., MBBS, MSc, MD, PhD, Wake, Melissa, MD, FRACP, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, MBBS, FAFPHM, FRACP, PhD, Tang, Mimi L.K., MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA, FAAAAI, Lowe, Adrian J., PhD, Matheson, Melanie, PhD, Dwyer, Terence, PhD, Allen, Katrina J., MBBS, BMedSc, FRACP, FAAAI, PhD
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Age Allergens Allergens - immunology Allergic diseases Allergic rhinitis Allergy and Immunology Animals Arachis - adverse effects Asthma Asthma - epidemiology Australia - epidemiology Child, Preschool Children Children & youth Eczema Eczema - epidemiology Female Follow-Up Studies Food allergies Food Hypersensitivity - diagnosis Food Hypersensitivity - epidemiology Humans Infant Infants Longitudinal studies Male Milk - adverse effects Ovum - immunology Parents & parenting Peanuts Population Population studies Population-based studies Prevalence Questionnaires Rhinitis Rhinitis, Allergic - epidemiology Seafood - adverse effects Sesamum - adverse effects Skin diseases Skin Tests Studies Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:	Background The HealthNuts study previously reported interim prevalence data showing the highest prevalence of challenge-confirmed food allergy in infants internationally. However, population-derived prevalence data on challenge-confirmed food allergy and other allergic diseases in preschool-aged children remain sparse. Objective This study aimed to report the updated prevalence of food allergy at age 1 year from the whole cohort, and to report the prevalence of food allergy, asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis at age 4 years. Methods HealthNuts is a population-based cohort study with baseline recruitment of 5276 one-year-old children who underwent skin prick test (SPT) to 4 food allergens and those with detectable SPT results had formal food challenges. At age 4 years, parents completed a questionnaire (81.3% completed) and those who previously attended the HealthNuts clinic at age 1 year or reported symptoms of a new food allergy were invited for an assessment that included SPT and oral food challenges. Data on asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis were captured by validated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires. Results The prevalence of challenge-confirmed food allergy at age 1 and 4 years was 11.0% and 3.8%, respectively. At age 4 years, peanut allergy prevalence was 1.9% (95% CI, 1.6% to 2.3%), egg allergy was 1.2% (95% CI, 0.9% to 1.6%), and sesame allergy was 0.4% (95% CI, 0.3% to 0.6%). Late-onset peanut allergy at age 4 years was rare (0.2%). The prevalence of current asthma was 10.8% (95% CI, 9.7% to 12.1%), current eczema was 16.0% (95% CI, 14.7% to 17.4%), and current allergic rhinitis was 8.3% (95% CI, 7.2% to 9.4%). Forty percent to 50% of this population-based cohort experienced symptoms of an allergic disease in the first 4 years of their life. Conclusions Although the prevalence of food allergy decreased between age 1 year and age 4 years in this population-based cohort, the prevalence of any allergic disease among 4-year-old children in Melbourne, Australia, is remarkably high.
ISSN:	0091-6749 1097-6825