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ABSTRACT: Background
Shellfish allergy (SA) is one of the most common food allergies causing anaphylaxis in adults and children. There are limited data showing the prevalence of SA in US children.Objective
To determine the prevalence and reaction characteristics of SA in the US pediatric population.Methods
A cross-sectional food allergy prevalence survey was administered via phone and the Web by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago from 2015 to 2016. Point prevalence SA estimates, complex survey weighted proportions, and 95% CIs were determined. Relative proportions of demographic characteristics were compared using weighted Pearson ?2 statistics.Results
The prevalence of SA was 1.3% (95% CI, 1.1-1.5), with more children allergic to crustaceans (1.2%; 95% CI, 1.0-1.3) than to mollusks (0.5%; 95% CI, 0.4-0.6). Mean ages of shellfish, crustacean, and mollusk allergy diagnoses were 5.0 (95% CI, 4.4-5.6), 5.1 (95% CI, 4.6-5.6), and 7.7 (95% CI, 5.7-9.7) years, respectively. More than half (54.9%; 95% CI, 48.1-61.4) of pediatric patients with SA had more than 1 lifetime food allergy-related emergency room visit, but only 45.7% (95% CI, 39.2-52.4) carried an epinephrine autoinjector. Children with SA were more likely to be black/Hispanic/Latino and have comorbid asthma, allergic rhinitis, or a parental history of asthma, environmental, or other food allergies (P < .001).Conclusions
The epidemiology of SA in the US pediatric population shows that crustacean allergy is more common than mollusk allergy. A disparity in SA children and epinephrine autoinjector carriage exists. Results from this study will lead to increased awareness of the need for detailed histories, specific diagnostic tests, and rescue epinephrine for anaphylaxis in US children with SA.
SUBMITTER: Wang HT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7951995 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wang Helen T HT Warren Christopher M CM Gupta Ruchi S RS Davis Carla M CM
The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice 20200107 4
<h4>Background</h4>Shellfish allergy (SA) is one of the most common food allergies causing anaphylaxis in adults and children. There are limited data showing the prevalence of SA in US children.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine the prevalence and reaction characteristics of SA in the US pediatric population.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional food allergy prevalence survey was administered via phone and the Web by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago from 2015 to 2016. Po ...[more]