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Food-induced anaphylaxis in children up to 3-years-old preliminary study
Julia Gawryjołek1, Aneta Krogulska2
1Department of Pediatrics, Allergology and Gastroenterology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland; gawryjolek.j@gmail.com.
Insights
Food-induced anaphylaxis occurs in 0.3% of young children, with milk being a common trigger. Symptoms like urticaria and respiratory issues vary by age, with infants experiencing it as their first food allergy sign.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergy and Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Food-induced anaphylaxis is a significant concern in young children.
- Understanding its frequency, triggers, and symptoms is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of food-induced anaphylaxis in children aged 0-3 years.
- To analyze the diverse symptoms and common triggering factors of anaphylaxis in this age group.
- To estimate the incidence of anaphylaxis episodes within the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship region.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted for 29 children aged 0-3 years.
- Clinical data from medical charts were reviewed to identify cases of food-induced anaphylaxis.
Main Results:
- Anaphylaxis occurred in 0.3% of hospitalized children aged 0-3 years and 1.9% of those suspected of food allergy.
- The most frequent symptom was mild-to-moderate urticaria; respiratory symptoms were more common in toddlers than infants.
- Cow's milk and milk-rice porridge were the most common triggers, identified in 62% of cases. Anaphylaxis was a more frequent initial manifestation of food allergy in infants.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of anaphylactic reactions in hospitalized children aged 0-3 years was 0.3%.
- Skin lesions were the predominant symptom, with cow's milk identified as the primary allergen after initial home exposure.
- Anaphylaxis presentation differs based on the child's age.
Introduction And Objectives:
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of food-induced anaphylaxis, analyze the symptoms, and triggering factors in a group of youngest children. Also, the study aims to estimate the frequency of anaphylaxis episodes in children in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship region.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of medical records of 29 children aged 0-3 years that presented symptoms of food-induced anaphylaxis. Medical charts were reviewed using a collection of documents with the clinical data.
Results:
The frequency of anaphylaxis was determined to be 0.3% of all hospitalized children aged 0-3 years and 1.9% of children suspected of food allergy. The mean age of an anaphylactic reaction was 12±9 months. The most common symptom was mild-moderate urticaria. The respiratory symptoms were significantly more prevalent in toddlers than in infants (p = 0.148). Cardiac symptoms occurred only in the infant group, i.e., in two (11%) infants. As a possible cause of the symptoms, in 18 (62%) cases, parents most often indicated the consumption of milk or milk-rice porridge. Anaphylaxis as the first manifestation of food-allergy was significantly more prevalent in infants than in older children (p = 0.0002).
Conclusions:
The incidence of anaphylactic reactions rated at 0.3% of all children hospitalized at this age. The most common symptoms of anaphylactic reaction were skin lesions. The primary cause of allergic reactions was cow's milk after the first exposure at home. Anaphylaxis has different patterns of symptoms depending on the age of the child.
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