MINISTRY OF HEALTH "2015 PENULTIMATE YEAR CHILDREN AND SURVEY AND RESEARCH PROJECT PROMOTING THE PARENTING SUPPORT" ACTUAL CONDITIONS REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION ON ALLERGY CONTROL IN DAY-CARE CENTERS ADMISSIONS CHILDREN OF ALLERGIC DISEASES SITUATION AND DAY-CARE CENTERS

Abstract

There are no reports on the prevalence and social acceptance of food allergies (FAs) and FAinduced symptoms in nursery schools in Japan. The purpose of this study is to clarify the current status of FA among children in nurseries. Investigations were conducted in childcare facilities nationwide through survey request forms found on the Web page or sent via post. We received responses from 15722 out of the 32210 institutions (48.8%) to whom survey request forms were sent.The overall prevalence of FA was 4.0%, with 6.4% at age less than 1 year, 7.1% at age 1, 5.1% at age 2, 3.6% at age 3, 2.8% at age 4, 2.3% at age 5, and 0.8% at age 6. Ninety-three point four percent of the institutions responded that they catered to children with FA, whereas 3.3% of the institutions responded that they did not. The details of the meal service were as follows: 52.4% were meals without causative foods, 39.5% were alternative meals without causative foods, and 3.3% were packed lunches from home. Seven point six percent of infants had at least one FA symptom in the institutions. Several nursery schools were accepting children with FA, and school lunches were also modified by removing causative food and providing alternative meals. On the other hand, several infants experience FA-induced symptoms, and it is necessary for each department to establish a system to reduce accidental ingestion and to ensure proper emergency response.