Prevalence of Food Allergy among Schoolchildren in Lebanon

Author(s):  
Jana Sakakini ◽  
Carla Irani ◽  
Rana Bikai ◽  
Gretta Sahyoun ◽  
Souheil Hallit ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Food allergy (FA) is a global health problem with an ongoing rise in prevalence, especially in developed countries. It has been reported to be most prevalent in children, although cases in adults have been increasing as well. FA may lead to life-threatening clinical manifestations. Data in Lebanon and the Middle East are limited. To our knowledge, few studies tackled its prevalence in children in this region. <b><i>Aim:</i></b> This study aims at determining self-reported prevalence of FA in schoolchildren (ages 3–17 years) in Lebanon and describes its characteristics. <b><i>Method:</i></b> Throughout this cross-sectional study, 5 schools from 3 different governorates in Lebanon (Beirut, Mt. Lebanon, and Beqaa) were contacted to participate and 5,312 questionnaires were sent out to be completed by the parents and sent back to the school during May 2019. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 2,610 questionnaires were collected (49.13%). A hundred and forty-eight (6%) children reported to have FA, 58% were males. 80% of them were breastfed, 51% were diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 14 years. Common allergens included cow’s milk and milk products (22.46%), fruits and vegetables (16.58%), eggs (8.02%), and nuts (5.88%). Allergic symptoms included skin reactions (45.08%), gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (29.53%), respiratory symptoms (14.51%), and systemic symptoms (10.88%). 82% of the population with FA has sought professional advice, out of which 54% were confirmed by a physician. Common methods of diagnosis were IgE test (35.71%), food elimination (27.92%), and skin prick test (18.83%). χ<sup>2</sup> analysis has shown that a higher percentage of children with FA had skin reactions (58.8%, <i>p</i> = 0.033) and GI symptoms (30.41%, <i>p</i> = 0.047). A higher percentage of children with allergies were breastfed. No relation between the presence of FA and delivery mode was observed. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study has shown that the self-reported prevalence of FA among Lebanese schoolchildren is 6%, and it was correlated with skin and GI symptoms. The most common allergen was cow’s milk. A higher proportion of children with FA were breastfed. No association between the mode of delivery and FA was found. Larger studies are needed to confirm the above findings.

2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Makarova ◽  
L. S. Namazova-Baranova ◽  
N. N. Murashkin ◽  
E. A. Vishneva ◽  
R. V. Epishev ◽  
...  

Background: Inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) refers to a group of rare inherited disorders characterized by severe damage of skin and in most patients — the gastrointestinal mucosa, what leads to a violation of skin and mucosal barrier properties in relation to allergens. However, the issues of food sensitization and food allergy in this category of patients have not been studied, and the study of this problem is important.Aim: To evaluate the clinical manifestations of food allergy (FA) and IgE-response to food proteins in children with EB.Methods: 82 patients with EB aged from 2 months to 16 years were entered this open non-randomized observational prospective study, including 20 patients with simple form of EB and 62 patients with dystrophic form of EB. We analyzed allergic history and clinical manifestations of the FA in all the patients. Every patient in this study underwent of determination of the concentration of total serum IgE and specific serum IgE to the most important food allergens, as well as to mixtures of household allergens in some cases (UniCAP System, Phadia AB). Results: Skin lesion in patients with EB masks allergic skin manifestations, causing a hypodiagnosis of the FA in this category of patients, which in turn leads to erroneous organization of nutritional support. FA (clinical manifestations) was identified in 20.7% of children with EB (in 10% of cases with simple form of EB and in 24.2% — in patients with dystrophic form of EB). Products containing cow’s milk protein, cereals, and eggs were identified as etiologic factors of FA in most cases. In the group of children with comorbidity FA and EB high and very high levels of total IgE (1000 kUA / l) were detected most frequently. The main cause-significant allergens are cow’s milk proteins, cereals, eggs. Conclusions: Comorbidity with FA is high in patients with dystrophic form of EB. The main cause-significant allergens are cow’s milk proteins, cereals, eggs.


Author(s):  
Mahnaz Sadeghi Shabestari ◽  
Parisa Siahsangi ◽  
Mandana Rafeey ◽  
Maryam Hosseinpour Sarmadi ◽  
Parinaz Habibi

Background: Cow’s milk is one of the first foods added to infants’ diet and cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is the most common food allergy in the first year of life. The aim of this study was to survey the frequency of infants with cow’s milk allergy using COMISS questionnaire. Methods: In a cross-sectional, descriptive study, 100 infants were selected by a convenient method. Demographic information and clinical manifestations were completed based on COMISS Questionnaire for all infants. Data were analyzed using chi-square and independent t-test. Results: The finding of this study shows that from 100 infants (51 males, 49 females), with a mean age of 3.5 ± 1.4, 61% of them were breastfed, 30% were fed both cow’s milk and breast milk, and 9% were fed only cow’s milk. The probability of cow’s milk allergy using the COMISS Questionnaire was positive in 8% of infants. According to the criteria of this Questionnaire, 65% of infants acquired a score of 0-5, 27% scored 6-11, and 8% scored 12 and above A significant association was found between cow’s milk allergy and infant’s diet (p <0.001). A significant association was also found between growth index (weight p=0.05, height p=0.02, and head circumstance p=0.03) and CMA. Conclusion: It seems that using non-invasive methods such as COMISS Questionnaire can be helpful for the diagnosis of CMA and also breastfeeding might be reducing the allergy to cow’s milk.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia B Platonova

The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing year by year. Atopic dermatitis (AD) - the earliest clinical manifestation of atopy. By definition, atopic dermatitis is the allergic skin disease that occurs usually in early childhood in individuals with hereditary predisposition to atopic diseases having a chronic relapsing course, age characteristics of the location and morphology of the foci of inflammation, characterized by pruritus and caused hypersensitivity as to allergens, and to nonspecific irritants. Food and inhalant allergens play an important role in the formation of atopic dermatitis. The protein of cow’s milk is one of the first products to which developing sensitization. This is especially important for children in their first year of life. During this period neonatologists of the maternity hospital and precinct pediatricians are very important to assess the risk of a child’s food allergy and, if necessary, artificial feeding or supplementary feeding to recommend an artificial mixture, taking into account evaluation results. The proper purpose depends largely on whether the risk is realized or not, as well as the effectiveness of treatment in the presence of existing clinical manifestations, because a rational diet is the guiding principle of therapy of atopic dermatitis in infants. Unfortunately, precinct pediatricians do not always assess the situation correctly. The article gives a clinical case, an example of which analyzed the most typical errors made when bottle-fed infants with food allergy to cow’s milk protein.


Author(s):  
Metin Aydoğan ◽  
Erdem Topal ◽  
Pınar Uysal ◽  
Hazal Cansu Acar ◽  
Ozlem Cavkaytar ◽  
...  

Background: Urticaria can be the only sign of a food allergy or can be seen together with other signs and symptoms of a food allergy. Objective: To determine the demographic, etiologic, and clinical features of food-induced acute urticaria in childhood. Methods: Patients suspected of food-induced acute urticaria were included in this prospective cross-sectional multicenter study. Results: Two hundred twenty-nine urticaria cases were included in this study. Seventeen patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria of the study were excluded. Of the 212 included cases, 179 (84.4%) were diagnosed with definitive food-induced acute urticaria. The most common foods causing acute urticaria were cow’s milk, hen’s eggs, and nuts in 56.4, 35.2, and 19% of cases, respectively. The positive predictive value of a history of milk-induced acute urticaria together with a milk-specific IgE >5 kU/L for cow’s milk-induced acute urticaria was 92% (95% CI: 81–96%). A history of cow’s milk-induced and/or hen’s egg-induced acute urticaria was consistent with a definitive diagnosis of food-induced urticaria (Chen’s kappa: 0.664 and 0.627 for milk and eggs, respectively). Urticaria activity scores were higher in patients with food-induced acute urticaria (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Cow’s milk, hen’s eggs, and nuts were the most common allergens in the etiology of childhood food-induced acute urticaria. Although the urticaria activity score provides guidance for diagnosis, an oral food challenge is often essential for the definitive diagnosis of a patient with a history of food-induced acute urticaria.


1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 51-60
Author(s):  
José Henrique Pereira Pinto ◽  
Renan Lemos de Toledo ◽  
William do Prado Franquelo

RESUMOIntrodução: Alergia à Proteína do Leite de Vaca (APLV) é uma doença inflamatória secundária à reação imunológica contra uma ou mais proteínas do leite de vaca (LV) que afeta principalmente a faixa pediátrica. A real prevalência é discutida em muitos estudos. As manifestações clínicas dependem do tipo da resposta imunológica, ser IgE mediada ou não. Os sintomas se iniciam por volta dos 06 meses de vida e na maioria dos casos, esse processo alérgico regride, com o paciente desenvolvendo tolerância até a adolescência. Casuística: Relata-se um caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, apresentando desde os 6 meses de idade de anafilaxia e broncoespasmo. Nesta época foi levado em hospitais e ambulatórios sendo diagnosticado e tratado como asma apenas, porém sem sucesso. Aos 18 anos, em consulta com especialista foi diagnosticado com APLV, apesar da dieta de exclusão, apresentou diversas reações anafiláticas, devido a ingestão acidental do alérgeno. Discussão: O paciente iniciou os primeiros sintomas quando houve contato com LV e apresentou teste laboratorial com valores compatíveis a patologia. Segundo a literatura a prevalência de APLV cai para menos de 1% aos 6 anos de vida e está persistência pode estar associada a múltiplos fatores, no caso relatado, o paciente não apresentou tolerância até o presente momento. Conclusão: APLV é uma doença usualmente de criança em que, se estas não adquirirem tolerância, complicações podem perdurar indefinidamente. O Diagnóstico precoce e o manejo adequado desta condição, revela grande importância na qualidade de vida e na prevenção de anafilaxia.Palavras chave: Alergia, Proteína do leite de vaca, Anafilaxia. ABSTRACT Introduction: Allergy to cow's milk (CMPA) is an inflammatory disease Introduction: Allergy to cow's milk (CMPA) is an inflammatory disease secondary to immune response against one or more cow's milk proteins (LV) which primarily affects pediatric patients. The current prevalence is discussed in many studies. The clinical manifestations depend on the type of immune response, being IgE mediated or not. Symptoms start at about 06 months of life and in most cases, the allergic process subsides, and the patient develops tolerance through adolescence. Case Report: We report the case of a male patient, who was presenting, since his 06 months of age, anaphylaxis and bronchospasm. At that time he was taken into hospitals and clinics being diagnosed and treated as asthma, but without success. At 18, in consultation with expert was diagnosed with CMPA, and despite the exclusion diet, presented several anaphylactic reactions due to accidental ingestion of the allergen. Discussion: The patient began the first symptoms when there was contact with LV and presented laboratory test values compatible with the pathology. According to the literature the prevalence of CMPA drops to less than 1% to 6 years of life and this persistence can be associated with multiple factors, in our case, the patient did not develop tolerance to date. Conclusion: CMPA is usually a child disease but ,if they do not acquire tolerance, complications can last indefinitely. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of this condition, reveals a great deal on quality of life and prevention of anaphylaxis. Keywords: Allergy, Cow’s milk protein, Anaphylaxis. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Surya Jayanti Kadek ◽  
Dewi Kumara Wati Ketut ◽  
Karyana Putu Gede

Background About 60% of individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) develop their first manifestation during infancy. Cow’s milk (CM) exposure is considered to be a risk factor for AD.Objective To evaluate for an association between cow’s milk exposure and atopic dermatitis in infants > 6 months of age.  Methods This cross-sectional study consisted of subjects from a previous study and new subjects recruited in order to meet the minimum required number of subjects. Our study population comprised 120 infants, born between 1 February and 30 November, 2012 in Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar. Subjects were divided into CM and non-CM groups and analyzed for their risk of AD. Subjects were included to CM group if they were fed with cow’s milk/formula  and included to non-CM group if they were breastfeed exclusively in the first six months of life. Other possible risk factors were assessed by multivariate analysis. Results One hundred twenty subjects were enrolled and analyzed (59 in the CM and 61 in the non-CM groups). The prevalence of AD was 30%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between CM exposure and AD, with odds ratio (OR) 2.37 (95%CI 1.036 to 5.420; P=0.04). In addition, maternal diet including eggs and/or cow’s milk during the breastfeeding period was significantly associated with AD in infants (OR 3.18; 95%CI 1.073 to 9.427; P=0.04).Conclusion Cow’s milk exposure is significantly associated with atopic dermatitis in infants  > six months of age. 


Author(s):  
Yaqiong Cui ◽  
Yang Yu ◽  
Shuxiang Lin ◽  
Li Xu ◽  
Liuxu Li ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is the most common IgE-mediated food allergy and Bos d 5 is the major allergen in cow’s milk proteins. More than 60% of the patients with CMA are sensitized to this protein. <b><i>Methods and Results:</i></b> A recombinant protein, encoded by a synthetic gene and consisting of reassembled Bos d 5 fragments, was expressed in <i>E. coli</i> strain BL21 (DE3) cells and purified to homogeneity. The B5M lacked relevant IgE-reactivity and allergenic activity compared with Bos d 5 in dot-blot and basophil activation assays. T-cell proliferation experiments demonstrated that B5M preserved the main T cell epitopes of Bos d 5. Immunization of rabbits with B5M induced protective IgG antibodies that blocked the binding of patients’ IgE antibodies to the wild-type allergen and inhibited the degranulation of basophils induced by Bos d 5. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Thus, we developed a new strategy, which was based on rational molecular reassembly for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) of CMA and food allergy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1464-1468
Author(s):  
Imdad Ali Ansari ◽  
Jawed Akhtar Samo ◽  
Mohammad Aslam Soomro

Background: Worldwide, intestinal parasitic infections are major causeof human mortality and morbidity especially among developing countries wherein publichealth standards are not much better like developed countries. Intestinal parasiticinfections are linked with poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water, inadequate dietaryand cultural habits and climate conditions. Objective: To assess the frequency, riskfactors and clinical manifestations related to intestinal parasite infections in patients withgastrointestinal disorders. Study Design: Cross-sectional multi-centre study. Setting:Department of Medicines, Chandka Medical College Larkana and Civil Hospital, KhairpurMirs. Period: 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2017. Method: 260 patients, the patientswith gastrointestinal disorders presenting one or more symptoms (e.g. diarrhea, dysentery,abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, cramping and constipation) were included.Results: Frequency of intestinal parasites was 32.3%. The most common parasites wereEntamoeba histolytica (10.4%), Giardia lamblia (8.5%) and Hymenolepis nana (6.9%). Age,education, monthly income and contact with animal were significantly associated withintestinal parasite infections. Concerning symptoms, the presence of intestinal parasitesinfection was significantly associated with diarrhea and dysentery. Conclusion: Studyconcluded that most prevalent parasites were Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lambliaand Hymenolepis nana. Significant association was found in age, education and monthlyincome.


Rheumatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Makhlouf Yasmine ◽  
Hanene Ferjani ◽  
Affes Hassen ◽  
Kaouther Maatallah ◽  
Dorra Ben Nessib ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Children are vulnerable to congenital and developmental hip disorders. One of the causes of coxitis among children is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Existing data on associations between maternal and early childhood exposures highlighted the potential role of prematurity in JIA [1]. The aim of this study was to compare perinatal history in JIA children with coxitis compared with patients with other causes of hip involvement. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study including children with JIA complicated with coxitis and patients with other causes of hip involvement. We recorded sociodemographic data and the hip disorder. The mode of delivery, the values of the neonatal birth weight as well as the delivery method (vaginal, cesarean (C) section) were retrieved from medical records. We divided the patients into two groups: G1: JIA patients with coxitis and G2: patients with other causes of hip involvement. We compared delivery mode, as well as perinatal outcomes between the two groups. Results The study included 81 patients. There was a male predominance (59.3% males vs 40.7% females) with a sex-ratio of 1.45. The mean age of diagnosis was 9.9 years [1–16]. The mean disease duration was 9 months [0.1–156]. Hip disorders were distributed as follows: Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (n = 3), epiphysiolysis of the femur head (n = 30), transient synovitis of the hip n = 7, septic hip (n = 10), tumor (n = 4), hip dislocation (n = 8), hip dysplasia (n = 4), juvenile idiopathic arthritis with coxitis (n = 15). The mean birth weight of the children was 3.4 kg [1.3–9]. About half of the patients had a natural delivery (55.6%) and most of them a face presentation (71.6%). A twin pregnancy was reported only in 2.5% of cases. Childbirth complications were reported in 7.4% of cases: umbilical cord prolapse (n = 1), Meconium aspiration syndrome (n = 1), failure to descend (n = 1), acute fetal distress (n = 3). Most of them had a normal growth and psychomotor development (96% and 97% respectively). There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding delivery mode and fetal presentation before birth (P = 0.07, P = 0.48 respectively). Similarly, weight at birth was similar between JIA children and patients with other hip involvement (P = 0.52). Conclusion Our study showed that maternal and perinatal history did not differ between JIA patients with coxitis and patients with other causes of hip involvement.


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