Childhood food allergy and anaphylaxis: an educational priority

Effective strategies for primary prevention of FA are lacking, and secondary prevention is limited to strategies to reduce the risk of unintentional exposure. Although food-specific immunotherapy appears promising, it remains at the investigational stage because of the infrastructure required, high rates of adverse reactions and lack of persistent tolerance when treatment ceases. 3 While several risk factors for childhood FA have been proposed — such as early-onset atopic eczema, timing of solids introduction, vitamin D status and intestinal bacterial load 3 — this area remains an active area of research. Although other triggers for anaphylaxis exist (insect venom, medication or latex), the major strategies for avoidance focus on FA, due to its relatively high prevalence in childhood and higher rates of accidental exposure, particularly in school and childcare settings.