Reported symptoms of food hypersensitivity and sensitization to common foods in 4-year-old children

  1. Eva Östblom1,2,3,
  2. Magnus Wickman1,3,4,
  3. Marianne Van Hage3,5,
  4. Gunnar Lilja1,2,3

Article first published online: 11 DEC 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00556.x

Issue

Acta Paediatrica

Acta Paediatrica

Volume 97, Issue 1, pages 85–90, January 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Östblom, E., Wickman, M., Van Hage, M. and Lilja, G. (2008), Reported symptoms of food hypersensitivity and sensitization to common foods in 4-year-old children. Acta Paediatrica, 97: 85–90. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00556.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Pediatrics', Sachs' Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

  2. 2

    Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

  3. 3

    Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

  4. 4

    National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

  5. 5

    Clinical Immunology and Allergy Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

*Correspondence Eva Östblom, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Sachs' Children's Hospital, S – 118 83 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +4686164000 | Fax: +468304571 | Email: eva.ostblom@ki.se

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 DEC 2007
  2. Article first published online: 11 DEC 2007
  3. Received 14 July 2007; revised 4 September 2007; accepted 12 September 2007.

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Keywords:

  • BAMSE;
  • children;
  • food allergy;
  • food hypersensitivity;
  • sensitization

Abstract

Aim: To characterize reported food hypersensitivity (FHS) among young children in a birth cohort.

Methods: At 4 years of age a parental questionnaire on FHS and allergic symptoms was evaluated. Blood was collected for analyses of IgE-antibodies to egg, milk, fish, wheat, peanut and soy. Complete questionnaire data was available for 3694 children (90%), and blood samples were obtained from 2563 children (63%).

Results: FHS was reported in 11% of the children (n = 397). Eczema was the most commonly reported symptom and the only symptom in half of these children. Food-related reactions from the airways, facial oedema or urticaria were reported in 198 children, and the majority of these children (75%) reported multiple symptoms. Furthermore, a combination of airway symptoms, facial oedema or urticaria together with sensitization to food suggested a more severe form of FHS. This was found in 1.6% of all children. Symptoms caused by peanut were closely associated with sensitization to peanut (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: FHS in 4-year-old children with any of asthma, rhino-conjunctivitis, facial oedema or urticaria in combination is in most cases associated to sensitization to food. This phenotype of FHS is likely to represent a more severe form of FHS.

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