Venkataraman D, et al. - Researchers sought to determine the prevalence and longitudinal trends in food allergy from birth to 18 years in an unselected birth cohort in the Isle of Wight. High prevalence of food allergy was noted in infancy with partial resolution during late childhood. A relatively higher prevalence at 18 years was also noted due to a number of children acquiring new food allergy during adolescence.

• The Isle of Wight Birth Cohort (n = 1456) was used to gather information on food allergy at ages 1, 2, 4, 10 and 18 years.
• Symptomatic children underwent skin prick testing (SPT) at the age of 1 and 2 years.
• Participants were tested to a panel of food and aeroallergens at 4, 10 and 18 years of age.
• The diagnosis of food allergy was made based on the criteria: symptoms suggestive of a typical IgE-mediated reaction and reaction <4 hours following exposure to a known food allergen.
• Using McNemar's test, significance of changes in prevalence over time was determined.

• Relatively constant prevalence of food allergy was noted in early childhood (5.3%, 4.4% and 5.0% at 1, 2 and 4 years, respectively), with significant decline at 10 years (2.3%, P < .001 vs 4 years) followed by significant rise at 18 years (4%, P=.02 vs 10 years).
• The most common allergens in the first 10 years were Cow's milk (1.6%-3.5%) and egg (1.1%-1.4%).
• Beyond 10 years, peanut (1%) and tree nuts (0.5%) became more prevalent.
• At 10 years, a less common prevalence of fruit and wheat allergy was noted.
• Emergence of shellfish and kiwi was seen during adolescence.
• As per findings, the prevalence of food allergy plus positive SPT was 1.3%, 0.8%, 0.8%, 0.9% and 2.2% at 1, 2, 4, 10 and 18 years, respectively.