Prevalence of Food Allergy in New York City (NYC) School Children

Abstract

To elucidate possible differences in the prevalence of food allergy (FA) in children of different socioeconomic or racial/ethnic backgrounds, we surveyed children from private and public schools in NYC. A bilingual food allergy questionnaire was distributed twice at four NYC elementary schools. The questionnaire was completed by the child's parent and returned by mail. Prevalence was calculated by questionnaires returned and by the total number of students per school. FA was assessed by parental report of physician diagnosis or parental self-report (with or without physician diagnosis). Questionnaires were distributed to 437 children at 2 private schools and 495 children at 2 public Charter schools, with a response rate of 60% vs. 27%, respectively (p<0.0001). Respondents from private compared to the public schools included more Caucasians and Asians (75% vs 6%; p<0.0001; 7% vs 0%; p=0.0006, respectively), fewer Blacks and Hispanics (4% vs 50%; p<0.0001 and 7% vs 54%, p <0.0001, respectively), and had a higher median household income (>$150,000/yr vs. $25,000-49,000/yr; p<0.0001). Physician-diagnosed and parental report of FA was higher in private versus public school children among those with questionnaires returned (17% vs 8 %, p=0.02; 13% vs 8%, p=0.2, respectively) and per total students in the school (physician diagnosed, 10% vs 2%; parental report, 8% vs 2%, p<0.0001). The overall prevalence of self-reported peanut allergy was higher in private schools (3.4% vs 1%, p<0.01). Differences in prevalence of reported FA exist in these unequal school settings, which may represent differences in true prevalence, awareness and/or access to care.