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Food allergy prevalence increased among U.S. children
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Incidence of food allergy and related hospital visits increased significantly from 1997 to 2007, according to CDC researchers. However, officials remain uncertain as to whether the statistics represent actual increases in clinical disease or reflect parental and health care provider awareness.
Data analysis from several nationally representative surveys revealed the following:
- In 2007, 3.9% of all children reported having experienced a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months — an 18% increase from rates reported in 1997 (P<.01).
- Food allergy–related outpatient visits tripled between 1993 and 2006 (P<.01) and were estimated at about 317,000 during that period.
- Hospitalization with documented food-related diagnoses rose from an average of 2,600 discharges per year (1998-2000) to 9,500 discharges per year (2004-2006; P<.01).
The adoption of diagnostic V codes in 2000, which record health issues not directly related to hospitalization, may play a part in the observed inflations, according to the researchers.
“Reported food allergy is increasing among children of all ages, among boys and girls and among children of different races/ethnicities,” the researchers wrote.
However, blood test results revealed that immunoglobulin E antibody responses varied depending on race/ethnicity, with black children more likely to have detectable levels of antibody to peanut and milk compared with white children, and a four times greater likelihood of having detectable antibody to shellfish.
Hispanic children were more likely than white children to experience food allergies but less likely than black children.
“This might demonstrate disparities in awareness and reporting among different demographic groups,” the researchers wrote. “Alternatively, racial differences between food-specific IgE levels and self-reported food allergies might be attributable to differences in dietary habits or other factors that differ among these racial/ethnic groups.”
Branum AM. Pediatrics. 2009;124:1549-1555.