Prevalencia de alergia alimentaria auto-reportada en adolescentes de Cuenca y Santa Isabel - Ecuador

Abstract

Food allergy (FA) is associated with the development of atopic diseases and anaphylaxis in adolescents. It was determined and compared among adolescents Cuenca and Santa Isabel: i) self-reported FA prevalence, ii) common food allergens and iii) self-reported atopic diseases. Crosssectional study was conducted in adolescents from Cuenca (n = 967) and Santa Isabel (n = 498) between July 2013 and July 2014. Data were collected through self-reported FA questionnaires. The prevalence of self-reported FA was 27.8% (Cuenca 31.5% vs. Santa Isabel 21.1 %; P <0.001). Additives were the major foods reported followed by the non-citrus fruits. 20.4% of adolescents who reported atopic diseases also reported suggestive symptoms of FA, while 7.4% of adolescents who reported suggestive symptoms of FA didn’t report atopic diseases (OR 3.39, 95% CI 2.6 to 4.4, P <0.001). In conclusion, self-reported additives and non-citrus fruits allergy were the most prevalent among adolescents in Cuenca and Santa Isabel. New foods usually not reported were identified. Adolescents with atopic disease were three times more likely to report FA than those who did not have atopic diseases.