Abstract
Background Limited studies exist on predictors of food allergy tolerance. Objective To describe factors associated with tolerance to 9 common food allergens based on caregiver report in a nationally representative survey. Methods Data from children with current and outgrown food allergies were identified for analysis from a randomized, cross-sectional survey administered in US households with children from June 2009 through February 2010. Allergies were analyzed based on type of allergy, age at which allergies were outgrown, and reaction history. Adjusted models were formulated to examine the association of child and food allergy characteristics with odds of reporting an allergy as being outgrown. Results Of 40,104 children surveyed, 1,245 cases of outgrown food allergy were identified. The frequency of tolerance in children with food allergy was 26.6% at a mean age of 5.4 years. Children with milk (41.1%), egg (40.2%), or soy (35.7%) allergy had significantly higher frequencies of tolerance, whereas children with shellfish (13.0%), tree nut (14.3%), and peanut (15.6%) allergies had significantly lower frequencies (P <.05). Factors significantly associated with a report of outgrowing an allergy included a mild to moderate reaction history, being allergic to only 1 food, eczema as the sole allergy symptom, and white compared with black race (P <.05). Probability of tolerance also was significantly higher at younger ages of first reaction and decreased for first reactions occurring later in life, irrespective of allergen, severity, or presentation (P <.05). Conclusion Multiple factors were associated with a report of outgrowing an allergy. Understanding factors associated with outgrowing an allergy can improve disease management and counseling.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 194-198.e4 |
| Journal | Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology |
| Volume | 111 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2013 |
Funding
Disclosure: Dr Greenhawt has received grants from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Michigan and nonfinancial support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and has been on the advisory boards of Nutricia and Thermo Fisher, the speakers' board of Sunovion, the editorial board of Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the reviewer board of The Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the medical advisory boards of International Association for Food Protein Enterocolitis and Kids With Food Allergies.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology