Parent-reported prevalence of food allergy in Mexican schoolchildren: A population-based study

Background: Food allergy (FA) prevalence is well documented in developed countries and appears to be increasing, but remains unknown in most Latin American countries. We aimed to evaluate on a population basis the parent-reported prevalence of FA and its clinical characteristics in Mexican schoolchildren. Methods: A validated Spanish version of a structured written questionnaire was administered to parents of schoolchildren aged 5-13 years old from Culiacan, Mexico. Results: A total of 1049 parents responded to the survey (response rate, 84%). The estimated prevalence rates (95% CI) were: adverse food reactions 10.0% (8.3-11.9), perceived FA, ever 5.5% (4.3-7.0), physician-diagnosed FA, ever 4.9% (3.7-6.3), immediate-type FA, ever 4.4% (3.3-5.8), immediate-type FA, current 3.5% (2.6-4.8), and anaphylaxis 1.2% (0.72-2.1). Immediate hypersensitivity reactions were mainly triggered by the consumption of shrimp (1.3%), other shellfish (0.7%), strawberry (0.6%), chocolate (0.5%), and egg (0.4%). Schoolchildren with immediate-type FA, current had more atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis (p < 0.05), but not asthma or drug allergy (p > 0.05) than children without FA. All cases of anaphylaxis sought medical attention, but only one child had physician-diagnosed anaphylaxis and was advised to acquire an epinephrine autoinjector. Conclusions: The prevalence of immediate-type FA, current to any food is 3.5% in Mexican schoolchildren. The poor recognition of anaphylaxis and the low frequency of prescription of epinephrine autoinjectors suggest that acute food-induced allergic reactions are not optimally managed in Mexico. (C) 2016 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.