설문지를 이용한 동작구 내 초등학생의 식품알레르기 실태조사

Abstract

Background: Food allergy (FA) changes the quality of life in a profoundly negative way, but there is a little available information regarding management of FA in schoolchildren. Methods: We performed a questionnaire survey to investigate current situation of FA management in elementary school children. A total of 1,137 first-grade students in 6elementary schools located in Dongjak-gu were enrolled in the survey. A total of 1,020 (89.7%) questionnaires regarding demographic information, previous diagnosis of allergic diseases, family history, FA symptoms, offending causes of FA, and dietary restriction were collected. The skin prick test was performed on those who were diagnosed with an allergic disease in the survey. Results: A total of 121 (12.0%) children had been restricting diet, and 245 foods were reported to be restricted by them. The three leading causes were peanut/nuts (27/245),wheat (27/245), and hen’s egg (22/245). Only 34 (27%) out of 121 students who were restricting diet had been diagnosed with FA by doctors. After the skin prick test, 183(55.0%) out of 333 children showed a positive reaction. Anaphylaxis was reported in 3 patients, and the offending foods were hen’s egg, milk, and buckwheat. Nine students abiding by the doctor's food restriction recommendation showed negative results to the skin prick test. Conclusion: A systematic and comprehensive approach should be performed to confirm a diagnosis of FA and to avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions.