title: Knowledge and practice of physicians and nutritionists regarding the prevention of food allergy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the knowledge and practice of pediatricians, pediatric gastroenterologists, allergists and nutritionists regarding the primary prevention of food allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional study that enrolled pediatricians (n = 80), pediatric gastroenterologists (n = 120), allergists (n = 100) and nutritionists (n = 220). A self-administered questionnaire concerning the current recommendations was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite the lack of current recommendations, 17.1% (n = 89) of all professionals, mainly nutritionists, recommended a maternal exclusion diet during pregnancy. More professionals in the sample group, 40.8% (n = 212), recommended a maternal exclusion diet during breastfeeding, and the rates of recommendation were higher in nutritionists and pediatricians compared to allergists and pediatric gastroenterologists (p < 0.001). Regarding the recommended timing of the introduction of complementary feeding, 41.9% (n = 218) of the professionals recommended modifying the age of introduction to prevent the development of food allergy. The majority of the professionals believed that prebiotics (61.2%; n = 318) and probiotics (44.4%; 231) prevent the development of food allergy. The recommended age of introduction for the main allergenic foods was 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that there are gaps in the knowledge of professionals about the primary prevention of food allergy.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo, 441 Pedro de Toledo Street, Vila Clementino, 04039-031 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Cury
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Patrícia da Graça
authors.initials: Pda G
authors.lastname: Leite Speridião
authors.forename: Mauro Batista
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: de Morais
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D064686:Nutritionists; D010820:Physicians; D056692:Prebiotics; D011247:Pregnancy; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D056692:Prebiotics