title: Food allergy and anaphylaxis in infants and preschool-age children.
abstract: Food allergy (FA) prevalence data in infants and preschool-age children are sparse, and proposed risk factors lack confirmation. In this study, 19 children's day care centers (DCC) from 2 main Portuguese cities were selected after stratification and cluster analysis. An ISAAC's (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) derived health questionnaire was applied to a sample of children attending DCCs. Outcomes were FA parental report and anaphylaxis. Logistic regression was used to explore potential risk factors for reported FA. From the 2228 distributed questionnaires, 1217 were included in the analysis (54.6%). Children's median age was 3.5 years, and 10.8% were described as ever having had FA. Current FA was reported in 5.7%. Three (0.2%) reports compatible with anaphylaxis were identified. Reported parental history of FA, personal history of atopic dermatitis, and preterm birth increased the odds for reported current FA. A high prevalence of parental-perceived FA in preschool-age children was identified. Risk factor identification may enhance better prevention.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal gasparmarques@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaspar-Marques
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carreiro-Martins
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioestatística e Informática, CEAUL, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Luísa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Papoila
authors.affiliation: CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Iolanda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caires
authors.affiliation: CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedro
authors.affiliation: CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Araújo-Martins
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Virella
authors.affiliation: Hospital da Luz, 1500-650 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosado-Pinto
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leiria-Pinto
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Neuparth
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: anaphylactic reaction; children; food allergy; prevalence; risk factors