Philippine guidelines on the dietary primary prevention of allergic diseases in children

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

• Rising prevalence of pediatric allergic diseases in the Philippines.
• Need for updated clinical guidance on prevention.
• Joint effort by the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI) and the Philippine Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (PSPGHAN).

Purpose of the Study:

• To update recommendations for clinicians on dietary interventions for preventing allergic diseases in children.
• Provide evidence-based guidance for managing pediatric allergies.
• Address the growing public health concern of childhood allergies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search and appraisal of existing clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews.
• Adherence to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
• Conduct of a de novo systematic review when necessary, followed by consensus-based recommendations.

Main Results:

• Recommendations formulated based on evidence of benefits, harms, cost, feasibility, acceptability, and availability.
• Identified significant research gaps impacting the certainty of evidence for many dietary recommendations.
• Consensus panel reviewed evidence summaries to formulate recommendations.

Conclusions:

• The guidelines provide updated recommendations for the dietary prevention of pediatric allergic diseases.
• Low certainty of evidence exists for several dietary interventions, underscoring the need for further research.
• Clinical practice should consider the available evidence and identified limitations when implementing dietary strategies.