Incidence of food allergy in Korean infants

Monday, 23 May 2011 13:02

Almost 1200 infants and their parents participated in a study to determine the incidence of food allergy in Korean infants and identify the risk factors of food allergies during the first year of life.

Pregnant women were recruited to the study, and their infants were followed up through parental telephone interviews at 4, 8, and 12 months after birth. Food allergy was defined as a repetitive convincing history of immediate allergic reactions following the ingestion of offending food.

Results showed food allergy prevalence was 5.3% in the infant population, with allergies to hen’s eggs, cow’s milk and peanut/tree nuts being the most common. Those children with a history of maternal atopic dermatitis had a significantly higher prevalence of food allergy. Those born during autumn also had a higher prevalence than those born during spring.

Reference: Kim et al. 2011. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01163.x.