title: Food allergy and food allergy attitudes among college students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little information is known about food allergy among college students.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess food allergy trends and behavioral attitudes on a large university campus.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was distributed by e-mail to local university undergraduate students. Symptom severity was determined based on previously published criteria for anaphylaxis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 513 individuals responded, with 57% reporting an allergic reaction to food. Of this group, 36.2% reported symptoms consistent with anaphylaxis, and these reactions frequently occurred while enrolled. Allergy to milk (P = .032), tree nut (P < .0001), shellfish (P < .0001), and peanut (P < .0001) was significantly associated with having symptoms of anaphylaxis. Some form of emergency medication was reportedly maintained in 47.7%, including self-injectable epinephrine (SIE; 21%), although only 6.6% reported always carrying this device. Medication maintenance was significantly lower among students who had not had a reaction while enrolled (P < .0001). Only 39.7% reported always avoiding foods to which they were allergic. Within the group that reported intentionally consuming known allergens, there were significantly lower numbers of individuals who reported carrying SIE (P < .0001) and significantly higher numbers of individuals with a history of a reaction that had not resulted in symptoms of anaphylaxis (P = .026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to foods are occurring on college campuses. Only 39.7% of students with food allergy avoided a self-identified food allergen, and more than three fourths did not maintain SIE. Such behaviors might place these students at increased risk for adverse events.
authors: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, Mich 48106, USA. mgreenha@med.umich.edu
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Greenhawt
authors: Andrew M
authors: AM
authors: Singer
authors: Alan P
authors: AP
authors: Baptist
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires