Food allergy epidemic in Australian children

BY JULIE SEAMER
MONDAY, 2 JULY 2007

A study of food allergy trends in Australian children, conducted over 12 years, has shown a 12-fold increase in incidence. The most severe and potentially fatal type of food allergy, which may result in anaphylaxis, has also dramatically increased.

A specialist allergy practise in the Australian Capital Territory conducting the study, found that peanuts, eggs, cows milk and cashews were responsible for the most common reactions. From 1995-2006 the number of children aged 0-5 years referred for assessment each year, increased more than fourfold. Hypoallergenic infant formula prescriptions have also increased fourfold.

Suggested explanations for these results include greater exposure to potentially allergenic foods along with increased understanding of symptoms and dietary influence.

Australia has one of the highest allergic incidence rates in the developed world. Food allergy and hospitalisation of children due to anaphylaxis have increased, with important implications for public health and medical workforce planning.

Food allergy can provoke anxiety for care-givers, particularly in schools when there is risk of death. In response to these issues the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy has published guidelines on allergy prevention, anaphylaxis, prescription of injectable adrenalin (required in extreme cases) and the care of food allergic children in schools and pre-schools.

For parents too, food is always a big topic. Unfortunately this worry now extends beyond what their children eat, because many of them must know how to assess and manage possible intolerance.

Tests for food allergy currently provide reliable indicators that hypersensitivity exists, however won't necessarily prove that a given food is the cause of allergic symptoms. Also, it gives no indication to help predict possible severity of reactions. Monitoring any reactions to changes in your children's diet, and by not ignoring the onset of possible allergy symptoms, is the first and best means to being aware of possible food sensitivities.