scholarly journals Food Allergy Management Has Been Negatively Impacted During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elif Soyak Aytekin ◽  
Sevda Tüten Dal ◽  
Hilal Ünsal ◽  
Ayşegül Akarsu ◽  
Melike Ocak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Allergy ◽  
Food Challenge ◽  
Oral Food Challenge ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dietary Compliance ◽  
Trial Experience ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Home Food

ABSTRACT Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic creates secondary problems for the health care system, and understanding specific issues can guide the management of the pandemic and its future consequences. We aimed to characterize the problems and related risk factors experienced with outpatient compliance and dietary compliance of children with food allergies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the mothers of children with ongoing food allergies, eight months after Turkey’s first confirmed case of COVID 19. Results: Of the 288 patients, 76.3% and 40.2% were non-adherent to their scheduled appointments and oral food challenge, respectively, during the pandemic. The group non-adherent to their scheduled visit was significantly older (p=0.005), had more frequent home food trials without the consent of their physicians (p<0.001), and had less usable epinephrine auto-injectors (EAI) available compared with the adherent group (p<0.001). Eighty-nine patients (30.9%) with home food trial experience had more essential food allergies (p<0.001) and experienced more allergic reactions (p=0.002), compared with patients who adhered to dietary elimination. Thirty parents (10.4%) eliminated some foods from their children’s diet because of the suspected reactions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic, significantly reduces adherence with scheduled appointments and OFC, and increases home food trials and food eliminations without physician approval. Keywords: The COVID-19 pandemic, food allergy, compliance, telemedicine, oral food challenge

scholarly journals Prevalence of Self-Reported Food Allergies and Their Association with Other Health Conditions among Adults in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 347
Author(s):  
Nora A. Althumiri ◽  
Mada H. Basyouni ◽  
Norah AlMousa ◽  
Mohammed F. AlJuwaysim ◽  
Nasser F. BinDhim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Food Allergy ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Gender

Food allergies are a potentially life-threatening health issue, and few studies have determined their prevalence throughout Saudi Arabia. The main objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence and distribution of self-reported food allergies, and explore their association with other health conditions among adults in Saudi Arabia. This study was a nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted via phone interviews in June 2020. A proportional quota-sampling technique was used to obtain equal distributions of participants by age and gender across the 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. Self-reported food allergy, height, weight, health conditions, mental health status, and demographic variables were collected. Of the 6239 participants contacted, 4709 (75.48%) participants responded and completed the interview. Furthermore, 50.1% of the participants were female, with a mean age of 36.4 ± 13.5 years (18–90 years). The prevalence of food allergies was 19.7%. The most self-reported food allergies were egg, shellfish and shrimp, and peanuts, with a prevalence of 3.7%, 3.1%, and 3.0%, respectively. There was an association between the presence of food allergies and reported bariatric surgery, asthma, colon disease, and being at risk of depression. Bariatric surgery was significantly associated with lower likelihood of self-reported allergy (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.34, p = 0.002). This study revealed, for the first time, a high prevalence of self-reported food allergies among adults in Saudi Arabia in a large nationwide sample, and food allergy association with bariatric surgery, asthma, colon disease, and being at risk of depression. This information is valuable for clinicians and policymakers, particularly in terms of food allergen labeling.

scholarly journals Food allergy knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food handlers working in the five-star hotel kitchens in Turkey

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34
Author(s):  
Uğur Lokman ◽  
Aylin Akoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Food Allergy ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Attitude Score ◽  
Food Handlers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Total Knowledge Score ◽  
Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

The purpose of this study is to determine the food allergy knowledge, attitudes and practices of food handlers working in five-star hotel kitchens in Turkey and to explore the association between the obtained scores and handlers’ demographic and working characteristics. A cross-sectional survey involving 450 food handlers in the state of Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya, in Turkey, was conducted using a paper-based questionnaire. The total knowledge score of the participants was 11.89 ±2.22 (max 17), attitude score 60.63 ±10.34 (max 75) and practice score 55.60 ±8.01 (max 65). In the comparison based on demographic characteristics; the knowledge (12.10 ±2.15) and practice (56.33 ±5.91) scores of the food handlers who received food allergy training in the hotel they work were found to be significantly higher than those who did not receive food allergy training (p<0.05). Food allergy knowledge of food handlers was evaluated as "average", attitude as "positive", and practice as "low risk practice". The results obtained are expected to contribute to the development of food allergy policies, procedures, and the planning of the necessary trainings for reducing the risks of food allergies and preventing fatal allergic reactions.

scholarly journals Oral Food Challenge

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 651
Author(s):  
Calvani ◽  
Bianchi ◽  
Reginelli ◽  
Peresso ◽  
Testa
Keyword(s):  
Food Allergy ◽  
Food Challenge ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Specific Ige ◽  
Oral Food Challenge ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Pediatric Allergy ◽  
Expert Review ◽  
Ige Mediated ◽  
Food Specific Ige

: Oral food challenge (OFC) is the gold standard for diagnosis of IgE-mediated and non-IgE mediated food allergy. It is usually conducted to make diagnosis, to monitor for resolution of a food allergy, or to identify the threshold of responsiveness. Clinical history and lab tests have poor diagnostic accuracy and they are not sufficient to make a strict diagnosis of food allergy. Higher concentrations of food-specific IgE or larger allergy prick skin test wheal sizes correlate with an increased likelihood of a reaction upon ingestion. Several cut-off values, to make a diagnosis of some food allergies (e.g., milk, egg, peanut, etc.) without performing an OFC, have been suggested, but their use is still debated. The oral food challenge should be carried out by experienced physicians in a proper environment equipped for emergency, in order to carefully assess symptoms and signs and correctly manage any possible allergic reaction. This review does not intend to analyse comprehensively all the issues related to the diagnosis of food allergies, but to summarize some practical information on the OFC procedure, as reported in a recent issue by The Expert Review of Food Allergy Committee of Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP)

scholarly journals Food allergy and anaphylaxis – 2054. Easy-to-use severity grading system for treatment of symptoms induced by oral food challenge

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. P137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriyuki Yanagida ◽  
Yuu Okada ◽  
Hasegawa Yukiko ◽  
Taro Miura ◽  
Ishida Wako ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Allergy ◽  
Food Challenge ◽  
Oral Food Challenge ◽  
Grading System ◽  
Severity Grading

scholarly journals Oral Food Challenge and Food Allergy Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children with Food Allergy

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Franxman ◽  
Laura Howe ◽  
Esther Teich ◽  
Matthew J. Greenhawt
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Food Allergy ◽  
Food Challenge ◽  
Oral Food Challenge

scholarly journals Food allergy in infants assessed in two German birth cohorts 10 years after the EuroPrevall Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Roehrl ◽  
Susanne Brandstetter ◽  
Linda Siziba ◽  
Dietrich Rothenbacher ◽  
Vincent Gaertner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Allergy ◽  
Food Challenge ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Food Allergies ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
The Status ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
Exposure During Pregnancy ◽  
Personalized Health

Background: The prevalence of food allergies (FA) in children increased rapidly at the turn of the century. The EuroPrevall study identified Germany as a country with very high prevalence of FA at that time. Using two large German birth cohorts we provide an update of the status quo ten years later. Methods: KUNO Kids and Ulm SPATZ Health studies are two ongoing prospective birth cohorts. Information on FA was obtained by questionnaires at birth and after 6, 12 and 24 months. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate risk factors during pregnancy, birth and early childhood. Results: In 1139 and 1006 children from KUNO Kids and SPATZ the point prevalence of parent-reported FA symptoms at the ages of 1 and 2 years was 13.2% and 13.9 % in KUNO Kids. Doctor’s diagnosed FA at 1 and 2 years was 2.4% and 2.7% in KUNO Kids and 2.3% and 3% in SPATZ. Cow’s milk and citrus fruits were most frequently suspected by parents to cause FA symptoms. Atopy in the child was associated with a higher frequency of FA at any time, whereas atopy in first degree relatives was only associated with FA at year 1. Smoke exposure during pregnancy was a risk for FA at age 2. Conclusion: The prevalence of food allergy seems to have plateaued in the last 10 years in Germany. FA is often suspected by parents but only rarely diagnosed by oral food challenge. Risk factor analysis may help to establish personalized health approaches.

High HIV prevalence among transgender women in Paraguay

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (13) ◽  
pp. 1308-1314
Author(s):  
Gloria Aguilar ◽  
Tania Samudio ◽  
Gladys Lopez ◽  
Liliana Jimenez ◽  
Erin C Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cocaine Use ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Trans Women

Transgender women have been understudied and underserved in Paraguay; data are urgently needed to understand their HIV prevention and care needs. To estimate HIV prevalence and related risk and preventive behaviors among trans women in Paraguay, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2017. We employed starfish sampling – a hybrid venue-based and peer-referral method combining recruitment at randomly sampled venues and randomly selected clients from program lists, followed by short-chain referrals of eligible peers. Among 304 trans women enrolled, HIV prevalence was 24.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 18.5–31.2%), with risk increasing with age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.06 per year, 95% CI 1.03–1.10), residence in Asunción department (AOR 4.75, 95% CI 1.57–14.36), and cocaine use (AOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.11–3.95). Trans women in Paraguay need to be prioritized for interventions with high HIV prevention efficacy. Substance use interventions to address cocaine use may also yield prevention benefits for trans women in our context.

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