Volume 25, Issue 115, September 2021

Prevalence of food allergy and associated risk factors among children in eastern region, Saudi Arabia

Hussain A Al Ghadeer^1♦, Jaber A Al Habeeb², Amal S Alsultan³, Ghofran M Almosailem³, Fatimah M Al Musallam³, Maryam A Alramadhan³, Wejdan H Al Musallam³, Fadi N Busaleh⁴, Ahmed Y Alghadeer⁴, Ahmed M Al Qassimi⁵, Muntaher S Al Hejji⁶, Ahmed M Alhamrani¹

¹Paediatric resident, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
²Paediatric Allergy and Immunology Consultant, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
³Medical intern, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
⁴Paediatric Specialist, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia
⁵Paediatric resident, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif, Saudi Arabia
⁶Paediatric resident, Maternity and Children Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Paediatric resident, Maternity and Children Hospital, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Food allergy is an adverse immune-mediated reaction after exposure to certain types of food. Food allergy is considered a major public health issue worldwide. Therefore, parents with an allergic child are responsible for the management of their children based on their knowledge toward food allergy. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of food allergy and associated risk factors among children in Eastern region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 1522 caregivers in Eastern region, Saudi Arabia from May to July 2021. Data was collected through a self-administrated questionnaire which was distributed online. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 25. Results: A total of 1522 primary caregivers who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Out of 1522, 524 (34.4%) caregivers stated that their children have a food allergy. Near half of the allergic children, 43.7% were diagnosed by a pediatrician while 29.6% of them underwent medical investigation. The most common food causing allergy was fish (26.2%), followed by Peanuts (19.6%). Preterm, parental and family history of food allergy or atopic diseases showed significant relationships (p=0.001) for developing food allergy. Conclusion: Our results show that food allergy is a common health problem in Eastern region, Saudi Arabia. The food allergy is not only confined to the child, but it also affects the whole families' well-being. So, a health education program about food allergy is recommended to educate caregivers about food allergies and its management.

Keywords: food allergy, atopic disease, prevalence, immune response, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2021, 25(115), 2247-2258

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