Investigating Allergies to Cow Milk, Peanut, and Egg in Children and Their Associations With the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis

Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a risk factor for children’s onset of food allergy. This study explores the frequency of food allergies among children with AD and their relationship with the severity of the disease. Methods: This analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted on ۴۸ children under the age of ۱۴ years who were diagnosed with AD. The patients were divided into three groups according to age as follows: Younger than ۲ years, between ۲ and ۷ years, and between ۷ and ۱۴ years. Serum immunoglobulin E level of food-specified allergen was measured. Then, the children were categorized into three groups for comparison based on AD severity, food allergy type, and frequency. Results: The frequency of allergy to egg, peanut, and cow milk was ۶۶.۷%, ۳۷.۵%, and ۱۸.۸%, respectively, in the patients. Boys have more allergies to peanuts (۴۶.۲%) than girls (۲۷.۳%). Egg allergy is prevalent among both genders (girls ۶۳.۶% and boys ۶۹.۲%). Allergy to cow milk was higher in the age group under ۲ years (۲۳.۱%). Half of the children between ۷-۱۴ years old had an allergy to peanuts (۵۰%). Over half of the children in all age groups had egg protein allergies. The patients with mild and moderate AD had more allergies (۲۵.۰%) to cow milk compared to severe AD patients (۶.۲%).  Discussion: This study indicated that food allergy is common in patients with AD, and nearly two-thirds of the patients were allergic to one foodstuff. Meanwhile, allergy to eggs was more common among the patients compared to other foodstuffs.