2024 Volume 38 Issue 2 Pages 178-186
Background: Most cases of food allergy (FA) are managed by non-allergy specialists (NS).
Objectives: This study aimed to identify current medical practices by NS for children with FA.
Methods: We analyzed the contents of lifestyle management guidance forms (LMGF), from the 2017 fiscal year, at nursery schools in Toyama City.
Results: Of the 11,292 children attending the nursery schools, LMGF forms were submitted for 740 (6.6%) FA; most (58.2%) were written by NS. Anaphylaxis occurred significantly less frequently among the children whose FA was managed by a NS than those by allergists. There was no significant difference in the number of foods eliminated by NS or allergists. Allergists were more likely than NS to cite oral food challenge as the reason for eliminating hen's egg (8.8% vs 1.0%) and cow's milk (8.9% vs 1.7%). NS was more likely to recommend elimination of foods containing trace quantities of culprit foods - e.g. eggshell calcium and lactose - than allergists.
Conclusion: NS managed more than half of children with FA and recommended more strict elimination than allergists. It is necessary to promote equal management level for FA through collaboration between allergists and NS.
