The Association Between Family History of Atopy and Food Allergy in Hispanic Children

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the association between family history of allergic conditions and food allergies in children of Hispanic ethnicity. We hypothesized that there is an association between family history of atopy and food allergy in children; this association has not been well studied in the Hispanic population, thus we aim to contribute further to the existing food allergy literature. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 355 patients of Hispanic origin with diagnosis of food allergy in Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Allergy & Immunology clinic. Non-parametric Chi-Square analysis of a 2 by 1 contingency table was performed using SPSS to assess the relationship between family history of atopy and food allergy in children. The data was further stratified via a 2 by 2 contingency table analysis to derive Chi-Square values by type of family history of atopy and specific type of food allergy in children. A difference was found in patients with food allergies and absence of family history of atopy vs. those with presence of family history atopy (p-value of <0.05). Furthermore, family history of atopy was found to be associated with greater odds of egg allergy in Hispanic children (OR: 1.62, CI: 1.029-2.556). Based on our findings, family history of atopy cannot be reliably used as a sole predictor of food allergy in Hispanic children. However, for egg allergy in particular, family history of atopy is associated with increased risk of developing egg allergy.