Abstract
Food allergy is a common allergic manifestation in early childhood. Since 2001, when we surveyed kindergartens regarding their food elimination policies for food allergic children, food allergy has become more publicized. Therefore, we resurveyed in 2006. A questionnaire was sent to all 439 kindergartens in Toyama Prefecture, and 229 valid answers (52.2%) were received. Food elimination had been undertaken in 86.9% of the kindergartens for 1.97% of the children, and both values were higher than those in 2001 (70.5 and 1.24%, respectively). Regarding elimination regimen, the percentage of the kindergartens requested a written form was increased from 13.5% to 58.3%, during five-year period. We also found elevated number of the kindergartens where they prepared for accidental intake of offending foods (from 22.7 to 79.9%). However, caregivers in 73.4% of the kindergartens had never heard about an injectable adrenaline device. Although their policies are clearly improved, there still appears to be a need for a food allergy guideline specified to kindergarten.
