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

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of food allergies (FA) in children increased\nrapidly at the turn of the century. The EuroPrevall study identified\nGermany as a country with very high prevalence of FA at that time. Using\ntwo large German birth cohorts we provide an update of the status quo\nten years later. Methods: KUNO Kids and Ulm SPATZ Health studies are two\nongoing prospective birth cohorts. Information on FA was obtained by\nquestionnaires at birth and after 6, 12 and 24 months. Univariate\nlogistic regression analyses were performed to investigate risk factors\nduring pregnancy, birth and early childhood. Results: In 1139 and 1006\nchildren from KUNO Kids and SPATZ the point prevalence of\nparent-reported FA symptoms at the ages of 1 and 2 years was 13.2% and\n13.9 % in KUNO Kids. Doctor’s diagnosed FA at 1 and 2 years was 2.4%\nand 2.7% in KUNO Kids and 2.3% and 3% in SPATZ. Cow’s milk and citrus\nfruits were most frequently suspected by parents to cause FA symptoms.\nAtopy in the child was associated with a higher frequency of FA at any\ntime, whereas atopy in first degree relatives was only associated with\nFA at year 1. Smoke exposure during pregnancy was a risk for FA at age\n2. Conclusion: The prevalence of food allergy seems to have plateaued in\nthe last 10 years in Germany. FA is often suspected by parents but only\nrarely diagnosed by oral food challenge. Risk factor analysis may help\nto establish personalized health approaches.