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Cow's Milk Allergy and Associated Factors Among Children in Abha City, Saudi Arabia - A Retrospective Case Control
Nawaf Khalid Alqurashi1, Syed Esam Mahmood2, Abdullah Alsabaani2
1Department of Infection prevention and control, Health Cluster, Health Holding Company, Ministry of Health, Makkah, 24267, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA) is common in children. A sibling with CMA increases risk, while breastfeeding protects against it. Early cow's milk introduction should be avoided.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA) is the most prevalent food allergy in children globally.
- Limited data exists on CMA prevalence and associated factors in Saudi Arabia.
- This study addresses the scarcity of information on CMA in Abha city.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors associated with Cow's Milk Allergy in children in Abha city.
- To assess parental knowledge and practices concerning CMA.
- To provide data for targeted interventions in Saudi Arabia.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study involving children with CMA and healthy controls.
- Data collected via medical records and a validated parental questionnaire.
- Analysis performed using SPSS software.
Main Results:
- A sibling history of CMA was identified as a significant risk factor (P=0.03).
- Parents demonstrated good knowledge regarding the link between early cow's milk introduction and CMA risk.
- The study included 31 cases and 37 controls aged 0-36 months.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding plays a protective role against CMA.
- Early introduction of cow's milk formulas during infancy should be avoided.
- Dietary strategies excluding allergens and using alternatives are recommended for managing CMA risk.
Introduction:
Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA) is the most common food allergy among children. The global prevalence of CMA ranges from 1.8% to 7.5% among children. Data regarding CMA is scarce and only a few studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the factors associated with CMA among children in Abha city and to explore the knowledge and practice regarding CMA among parents in Abha city.
Methods:
This retrospective one-year case control study was conducted amongst children with CMA (cases) and healthy children without CMA (controls) and their parents attending Abha Maternity and Children Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Data regarding CMA was extracted from the hospital medical records. A validated questionnaire was used to collect detailed information from the identified cases and controls after obtaining informed consent. SPSS software was used for data analysis.
Results:
The study groups consisted of 31 cases and 37 controls. Children between 0 and 36 months of age were included. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1. The parent's knowledge level was good regarding the association between early introduction of cow's milk and increased risk of CMA (Mean Score: 3.96). Having a sibling with a CMA is actually a risk factor for developing CMA (P-value = 0.03).
Conclusion:
To reduce the risk of CMA, the study recommends dietary strategies that exclude CMA allergens and the use of suitable alternative milk formulas. It highlights the protective role of breastfeeding and advises against the early introduction of cow's milk formulas during infancy. Furthermore, the study advocates for hospital nurseries and new parents to refrain from administering artificial milk formulas to newborns.
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