Rising trends in infant ER encounters for food-induced allergic reactions in the era of early allergenic food introduction
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Allergic reactions to food are a leading cause of pediatric emergency room (ER) visits. National guidelines now recommend early introduction of allergenic foods; however, whether these changes have affected ER encounters remains poorly understood. Objective: Our aim was to observe trends in ER encounters for food-induced reactions (FIRs), including food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA), among children aged 0 to 5 years between 2013 and 2024. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of ER visits at the University of California Los Angeles from 2013 to 2024. FIRs were identified by using International Classification of Diseases codes and stratified by age (0-1 vs 2-5 years). Logistic regression assessed annual trends. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare postguideline years (2022-2024) with preguideline years (2013-2016), adjusting for clinical and demographic variables. Results: = .002]). In children aged 2 to 5 years old, neither FIR nor FIA rates increased. Refractory anaphylactic reactions did not change in either group. In multivariate analysis, infants in the postguideline period had more than twice the odds of a FIR during the preguideline years (OR = 2.21 [95% CI = 1.37-3.55]), whereas no change was observed in the 2- to 5-year age group (OR = 0.82 [95% CI = 0.55-1.2]). Conclusion: ER visits for food reactions have continued to rise at a steady rate over time among infants. These findings underscore the need for additional research on adoption, parental guidance, and long-term impact of early allergen introduction.
Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology and Allergy
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,000
OpenAlex ID: W7116684249