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.
Study on the status of food allergy management and importance-performance analysis about precautions of food allergy in school foodservice according to the school types in Jeonbuk area
