Epidemiology of Paediatric Italian Food Allergy: Results of the EPIFA study

Rita Nocerino; Laura Carucci; Serena Coppola; Gaetano Cecere; Maria Micillo; Tina Castaldo; Stefania Russo; Marialuisa Sandomenico; Antonio Marino; Renato Gualano; Paola Ercolini; Antonella Capasso; Giorgio Bedogni; Roberto Berni Canani; Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (SIGENP)

doi:10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100246

Epidemiology of Paediatric Italian Food Allergy: Results of the EPIFA study

J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2024 Mar 26;3(3):100246. doi: 10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100246. eCollection 2024 Aug.

Authors

Rita Nocerino^{1

2}, Laura Carucci^{1

2}, Serena Coppola^{1

2}, Gaetano Cecere¹, Maria Micillo¹, Tina Castaldo¹, Stefania Russo¹, Marialuisa Sandomenico¹, Antonio Marino¹, Renato Gualano¹, Paola Ercolini¹, Antonella Capasso¹, Giorgio Bedogni^{3

4}, Roberto Berni Canani^{1

2

5

6}; Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (SIGENP)

Affiliations

¹ Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
² ImmunoNutritionLab at CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
³ Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, S Maria delle Croci Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Ravenna, Italy.
⁵ European Laboratory for the Investigation of Food-Induced Diseases, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
⁶ Task Force for Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

Abstract

Background: Updated epidemiologic data are important for defining effective public health strategies for pediatric food allergy (FA).

Objective: The Epidemiology of Paediatric Italian Food Allergy (EPIFA) study was designed to investigate the epidemiology of pediatric FA in one of the most heavily populated Italian regions.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in collaboration with family pediatricians aimed at investigating the epidemiology of Italian pediatric FA during 2009 to 2021. Family pediatricians in the Campania region were invited to use the Google Forms platform for online compilation of data forms. Data forms were reviewed by experienced pediatric allergists at the coordinating center.

Results: A total population of 105,151 subjects (aged 0-14 years) was screened during the study period. Data from 752 FA patients were evaluated. A progressive increase in FA incidence and prevalence was observed from 2009 to 2021, with a relative increase up to 34% and 113.6%, respectively, at the end of study period. The relative increase in FA prevalence was higher in the 0-3-year-old age group in the same study period (+120.8%). The most frequent allergens were cow's milk, hen's egg, and nuts.

Conclusion: The results of the EPIFA study showed an increase in pediatric FA incidence and prevalence from 2009 to 2021 in Italy. These results underline the necessity of new effective strategies for preventing and managing these conditions.

Keywords: Prevalence; anaphylaxis; children; cow’s milk allergy; food allergens; hen’s egg allergy; incidence; nut allergy; oral food challenge.