Prevalence and Determinants of Food Allergy in Children Attending Aswan University Hospital

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University

2 Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University

3 Clinical Pathology department, faculty of medicine, Aswan University

Abstract

Introduction: Food allergy (FA) is a growing public health issue, particularly in children, with an estimated prevalence surpassing 10% in industrialized nations. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical presentation, and diagnostic findings of FA among children attending the pediatric gastroenterology clinic at Aswan University Hospital.
Patients and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study included 300 children aged 1–15 years who presented with gastrointestinal complaints at the pediatric gastroenterology clinic of Aswan University Hospital from September 2023 to September 2024.
results: The study included 300 children aged 1–15 years with gastrointestinal complaints, half of whom were diagnosed with FA. The most common diagnoses were Celiac disease (51.3%), IgE-mediated allergies (40.7%), and less frequently CMPA (6.0%) and FPIES (2.0%). Clinical symptoms included runny nose (60.7%), diarrhea (51.0%), bloody stools (51.0%), and failure to thrive (46.3%).
Laboratory testing revealed elevated eosinophils (mean 10.42%) and total IgE levels (mean 147.21 IU/mL). Skin prick tests (SPT) and specific IgE (SIgE) tests identified common allergens such as peanuts (44.1%), fish (32.2%), and eggs (27.1%). Oral food challenge (OFC) confirmed food sensitivities in 35.3% of the cases, with fish, eggs, and peanuts being the most reactive allergens. Additionally, 51.3% of patients tested positive for tTG-IgA, confirming Celiac disease.
Conclusion: food allergies are common in pediatric GIT complaints, with Celiac disease and IgE-mediated allergies being the most prevalent. Diagnostic tests like SPT, IgE, OFC, and tTG-IgA are crucial for accurate diagnosis.

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