Prevalence of Food Allergy among Children in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates

• Published in: International archives of allergy and immunology Vol. 151; no. 4; pp. 336 - 342
• Main Authors: Al-Hammadi, S., Al-Maskari, F., Bernsen, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.2010; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Allergens - adverse effects; Allergens - immunology; Allergic diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Digestive allergic diseases; Eggs - adverse effects; Female; Fish Products - adverse effects; Food allergies; Food Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Fruit - adverse effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Original Paper; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Surveys and Questionnaires; United Arab Emirates; Urban Population; Rhône Alpes; United Emirates; France; Asia; Europe; Ain; United Arab Emirates; Allergens; Food allergy; Children; United Arab Emirates; Symptoms; Human; Immunopathology; Urban environment; Prevalence; Epidemiology; Symptomatology; Immunology; Digestive diseases; Child; Allergen
• ISSN: 1018-2438; 1423-0097
• DOI: 10.1159/000250442

Background: Food allergy (FA) in children is an important health problem. However, the prevalence of FA in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not yet been determined. This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of FA among school children aged 6–9 years in Al-Ain city, UAE. Methods: We used multistage random sampling in order to get a sample of 397 school children whose parents completed a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess the presence or absence of physician diagnosis of FA and other allergic diseases. Results: The study showed that the prevalence of physician-diagnosed FA in children was 8% (95% CI 5.4–10.8%). Eggs, fruits and fish were the main allergies reported. FA was independently related to a family history of FA, to a small sibship size and to a personal history of other atopic diseases. Conclusions: The prevalence of FA in Al-Ain city was 8%. A history of FA in first-degree family members and a small sibship size were associated with a higher risk of FA in children. FA was related to a personal history of other atopic diseases.