Journal List > J Nutr Health > v.52(6) > 1142011

Jang and Kim: Risk factors for food allergy among children in Seoul: focusing on dietary habits and environmental factors

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined the prevalence of food allergies and allergenic factors in a selected sample of children living in Seoul, Korea, along with their dietary habits, environmental factors, and diseases as risk factors for food allergy. The results of this study will provide basic data for addressing food allergies.

Methods

We selected 3,004 pre-school and school-age children, aged 0 ~ 12, in the 25 districts of Seoul as the study sample. Structured self-report questionnaires were administered over a two-month period in July-August 2018, and the children's parents recorded the answers on their children's behalf. The research tools in this study included the Korean version of the questionnaire from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).

Results

The physician-diagnosed prevalence rate of food allergies was 14.2%, while 20.4% of the children experienced allergic symptoms at least once and 17.4% reported symptoms within the previous 12 months. The children's symptoms included skin problems (88.1%), gastrointestinal issues (19.2%), oral issues (16.7%), respiratory issues (12.7%), and systemic issues (1.3%). The causes of allergies included eggs, peaches, milk, peanuts, and shrimps. The factors influencing the experience of food allergies were the consumption of cereal (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.09 ~ 2.10; p = 0.013), potatoes (aOR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.33 ~ 2.65; p < 0.001), and fast food (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.10 ~ 2.72; p = 0.017). Having food allergy symptoms was associated with a higher risk of experiencing asthma (aOR, 4.22 95% CI, 3.10 ~ 5.76; p < 0.001), allergic rhinitis (aOR, 2.53; 95% CI, 2.03 ~ 3.15; p < 0.001), and atopic dermatitis symptoms (aOR, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.88 ~ 4.40; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Episodes of food allergies warrant examining regular food consumption and placing dietary restrictions through early diagnosis as these episodes may imply the presence of other allergies. Our findings offer basic insights into the patterns, prevalence and symptoms of children's food allergies in Seoul, and our findings will contribute to identifying effective interventions for food allergies.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General characteristics of the study subjects

jnh-52-559-i001

1) n (%)

FA, food allergy symptoms; Non-FA, non-food allergy symptom; NSAIDs, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Table 2

Characteristics of children with food allergy symptoms (n = 612)

jnh-52-559-i002

Multiple response

Table 3

Adjusted analysis of association between dietary habits and food allergy symptoms

jnh-52-559-i003

FA, food allergy; OR, odds ratio; aOR, adjusted odds ratio

Adjusted by gender, age, family history, birth weight, types of delivery and breastfeeding

p-value from logistic regression

The question is “In the past 12 months, how often, on average, did your child eat or drink the following?”

< 1/week, Never or occasionally, reference

1 ~ 2/week, Once or twice

≥ 3/week, Three or more times a week

Table 4

Risk factors for food allergy symptoms among children in Seoul

jnh-52-559-i004

FA, food allergy; Non-FA, non-food allergy; NSAIDs, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; AR, Allergic rhinitis; AD, Atopic dermatitis; OR, odds ratio; aOR, adjusted odds ratio

Adjusted by gender, age, family history, birth weight, types of delivery and breastfeeding

p-value from logistic regression

Notes

This study was supported by grants from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Medical Center, Korea (grant number 18-A01).

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TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Mijung Jang
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6009-1547

KyooSang Kim
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4896-0548

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