Monitoring the impact of cow's milk allergy on children and their families with the FLIP questionnaire - a six-month follow-up study

• BackgroundMany children with cow's milk allergy (CMA) develop tolerance, but, challenges in daily life may remain. Using the Food hypersensitivity famiLy ImPact questionnaire (FLIP), we sought to monitor changes in the impact of CMA over time. MethodsFamilies of children with CMA, who participated in the validation of the FLIP, were re-approached 6months later for follow-up. Change in reported difficulties was assessed by paired sample t-test and mixed models, stratifying by outgrown vs. persistent CMA. ResultsImpact on families with children who had outgrown CMA (n=20) decreased in the FLIP's total score (p=0.0001) and in two subscales; Health and Emotions (p=0.0001) and Everyday Life (p=0.0001). In contrast, no significant improvements were registered in nutritional concerns. Impact on the group with persistent CMA (n=57) was unchanged at follow-up except for more impact on Everyday Life (p=0.001). In the final analysis comparing longitudinal changes in the groups, the strongest differences were observed for the subscales Health & Emotions and Everyday Life; for the Nutrition subscale, the between-group changes also differed, but to lesser extent. ConclusionsWe have documented the varying impact of CMA on parents and children over time. Families who were still affected continued to experience impact in daily life. Despite development of tolerance, families who were no longer affected revealed continuing nutritional concerns. Follow-ups should be offered even after outgrown CMA to encourage progression to unrestricted diet, to prevent eating disorders and to promote healthy growth.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Pediatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Pediatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Immunologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Immunology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

children and family

cow's milk allergy

cow's milk hypersensitivity

food allergy

food hypersensitivity

NEGATIVE FOOD CHALLENGES

ELIMINATION DIET

GUIDELINES

DIAGNOSIS

VALIDITY

ALLERGY/INTOLERANCE

MANAGEMENT

CHILDHOOD

ADHERENCE

SCHOOL

Allergy

Immunology

Pediatrics

children and family

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)