title: Prevalence of self-reported food hypersensitivity among school children in The Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide national figures on the prevalence of self-reported food hypersensitivity (S-FH), and the association with socio-demographic variables and some health indicators in schoolchildren in The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of the Child Health Monitoring System, data were collected from 4450 children, who were invited for a routine health assessment (response 97%). A questionnaire on food hypersensitivity was completed by the parents of the children in primary school and by the children in secondary school themselves. The measurements on health status were taken by the school physician or nurse during the school health assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 4-15 y in The Netherlands in three groups in primary school, and in the second year of secondary school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of S-FH was 7.2%. Food additives and chocolate were most frequently avoided. Of the children with S-FH, 40% avoided food exclusively either on their own accord or on advice of relatives. School absence due to illness, use of medication, and medical treatment were more prevalent in children with S-FH, and their health status was more often considered moderate or poor by the school physician or nurse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seven percent of school-aged children avoid certain types of food or ingredients because of S-FH. The prevalence of food allergy or food intolerance is probably lower, since many children with S-FH had not undergone any diagnostic tests. To prevent unnecessary food restriction, more information for parents is needed about the possible effects of food restriction on the health of their children, and they should be encouraged to seek further diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: TNO Prevention and Health, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brugman
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meulmeester
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spee-van der Wekke
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beuker
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Radder
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Verloove-Vanhorick
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D002099:Cacao; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives