The Prevalence Of Food Allergy In The First3Years In Life In Hangzhou, China

Background:We aimed to estimate the prevalence of food allergy in infants attending a routine well-baby clinic in Hangzhou, China. Methods:From February to May,2010, consecutive infants and young children aged0～3years attending routine well-baby checks at the Department of Primary Child Care, Children’s Hospital of Hangzhou, were invited to participate in the study. Parents completed questionnaires, and children were skin prick tested (SPT) to a panel of10foods (egg yolk, egg white, cow’s milk, soybean, peanut, wheat, fish, shrimp, orange, and carrot) together of histamine and saline controls. Subjects with either a positive SPT or a positive medical history were invited to undergo an open food challenge. Food allergy could be confirmed by open food challenge.Results:Of the548children who consented to participate,536(97.8%) completed the whole protocol. Of these,349children aged0～1year,103children aged1～2years,84children aged2～3years.26cases had positive reaction in food challenge and were confirmed to food allergy. Prevalence of food allergy was4.85%(26/536,95%CI3.03%-6.67%), with3.92%(21/536)egg allergic and0.75%(4/536) cow’s milk allergic. Conclusion:The overall prevalence of challenge-proven FA in0-to3-yr-old children in Hangzhou, was4.85%(26/536,95%CI3.03%-6.67%). The main foods implicated were egg, milk, shrimp and fish.