Title
Food avoidance in children with adverse food reactions: Influence of anxiety and clinical parameters
Author
Le, T.M.
Zijlstra, W.T.
van Opstal, E.Y.
Knol, M.J.
L'Hoir, M.P.
Knulst, A.C.
Pasmans, S.G.M.A.
Publication year
2013
Abstract
Background: Many children in the general population avoid food because of self-reported adverse food reactions (AFR). Food avoidance can have negative consequences for well-being and nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate which factors are related to avoidance behavior in children (10-13 yr old) from the general population. Methods: Questionnaires for both mother and child were sent to participants from the Europrevall study: 164 children with self-reported AFR and 170 children without AFRs. Spielberger state anxiety and trait anxiety and clinical parameters, such as severity of the adverse reaction, specific IgE and doctor's diagnosis, were compared between those who have (had) AFR and avoid food (i.e., avoiders) and those who have (had) AFR(s) and do not avoid food (anymore; i.e., non-avoiders). Results: In total, 59% of the children with AFRs avoided food, of whom 26% had positive specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE). Child's state anxiety about an AFR was higher in avoiders than in non-avoiders, (p < 0.001), whereas child's trait anxiety and maternal state anxiety and trait anxiety were comparable in both groups. Avoiders reported more often severe symptoms (i.e., generalized urticaria, respiratory or cardiovascular symptoms) than non-avoiders, (p = 0.03). Food avoidance was not associated with doctor's diagnosis of food allergy or doctor's advice to avoid food (p = 1.00). Conclusion: Food avoidance is related to child's state anxiety about an adverse food reaction. Food avoidance seems to be independent of a doctor's diagnosis of food allergy and advice on food avoidance. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Subject
Human
CH - Child Health
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Healthy for Life
Health
Healthy Living
Children
Food allergy
Food avoidance
State anxiety
Trait anxiety
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:28c54a9e-ddbe-4b29-8ebc-7f4fa7dd2ecf
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.12114
TNO identifier
482950
ISSN
0905-6157
Source
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 24 (7), 650-655
Document type
article