Food allergy may enhance likelihood of later allergic conditions

The presence of food allergy in early life could indicate a greater risk of atopic conditions later in childhood.

In a study published in JACI in Practice, investigators examined the electronic health records and pharmacy data of more than 10,000 children who were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis prior to 36 months of age.

The investigators identified more than 2,000 children with food allergy among those included in the analysis. They found that the children with both atopic dermatitis and food allergy were more likely to develop moderate-to-severe asthma, allergic rhinitis and anaphylaxis between 5 and 11 years compared with those without food allergy. Further, the children with food allergy demonstrated higher rates of asthma and allergen visits, use of systemic corticosteroids and controller medications like inhaled corticosteroids, autoinjectable epinephrine prescriptions, and aeroallergen sensitization, as well as dermatologist visits.

The findings emphasized the critical need for the early identification and monitoring of children with food allergy.

Read more: JACI in Practice

The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.