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The prevalence of allergy to egg: a population-based study in young children
M Eggesbø1, G Botten, R Halvorsen
1National Institute of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Egg allergy is common in young children, affecting an estimated 1.6% of 2.5-year-olds. Objective diagnostic methods confirmed most parent-reported reactions, highlighting the need for accurate allergy diagnosis in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Population-based estimates for adverse reactions to egg are scarce.
- Objective diagnostic procedures are needed to accurately determine egg allergy prevalence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of adverse reactions to egg in a child population.
- To validate parentally reported reactions using objective diagnostic methods.
Main Methods:
- A population-based birth cohort of 2721 children was studied.
- Questionnaires tracked food reactions at 12, 18, and 24 months.
- A stepwise diagnostic procedure, including diet trials and immunological tests, was used for children with reported egg reactions.
Main Results:
- The point prevalence of egg allergy in 2.5-year-old children was 1.6% (95% CI 1.3-2.0%).
- The cumulative incidence was estimated at 2.6% (95% CI 1.6-3.6%).
- Two-thirds of parentally perceived reactions were verified, with higher accuracy for repeatedly reported reactions.
Conclusions:
- Egg allergy is a frequent condition in the pediatric population.
- Objective diagnostic procedures are crucial for confirming food allergies.
Background:
The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of adverse reactions to egg, as population-based prevalence estimates based on objective diagnostic procedures are lacking.
Methods:
The parents of 2721 children in a population-based birth cohort completed questionnaires on the occurrence of any reaction to food at 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Children with parentally reported reactions to eggs at the age of 2 years were selected for further examination. A stepwise diagnostic procedure was developed that included diet trials at home, skin prick tests, and open and double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges. The mean age of the children at the time of the examination was 2.5 years (CI 2.5-2.6). A sample of children without perceived reactions to egg was also selected for assessment of unrecognized reactions.
Results:
The estimated point prevalence of allergy to egg in children aged 2(1/2) years was 1.6% (CI 1.3-2.0%), with an upper estimate of the cumulative incidence by this age calculated roughly at 2.6% (CI 1.6-3.6). Almost all reactions were IgE mediated. In general, two-thirds of the parentally perceived reactions were verified. However, the positive predictive value of a parentally perceived reaction depended on the number of times it had been reported, and increased from 50% to 100%, for reactions reported one and three times, respectively. Unrecognized reactions were infrequent.
Conclusion:
This study confirms that allergy to egg is frequent in a child population.