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      Quality of Life, Stress, and Mental Health in Parents of Children with Parentally Diagnosed Food Allergy Compared to Medically Diagnosed and Healthy Controls

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      Journal of Allergy
      Hindawi Publishing Corporation

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          Abstract

          Background. Food allergy is related to poorer quality of life (QoL) and mental health of caregivers. Many parents diagnose food allergy in their child without seeking medical care and there is limited research on this group. This study investigated parental QoL and mental health in parents of children with parent-diagnosed food allergy (PA), medically diagnosed food allergy (MA), and a control group with no allergy (NA). Methods. One hundred and fifty parents from a general population completed validated measures of QoL, anxiety, depression, and stress. Results. Parents of children with food allergy (PA or MA) reported higher stress, anxiety, and depression than the control group (all p < 0.05). Parents of children with MA reported poorer food allergy related QoL compared to parents of children with PA ( p < 0.05); parents of children with PA reported poorer general QoL compared to parents of children with MA ( p < 0.05). Conclusion. Parents of children with food allergy have significantly poorer mental health compared to healthy controls, irrespective of whether food allergy is medically diagnosed or not. It is important to encourage parents to have their child medically tested for food allergy and to recognise and refer for psychological support where needed.

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          Most cited references22

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          Epidemiology of food allergy.

          Adverse reactions to foods can occur for a variety of reasons, but a food allergy is caused by a specific immune response. Challenges to determine the prevalence of food allergy include misclassification, biased participation, lack of simple diagnostic tests, rapid evolution of disease, large numbers of potential triggers, and varied clinical phenotypes. Nonetheless, it is clear that this is a common disorder, with studies suggesting a cumulative prevalence of 3% to 6%, representing a significant impact on quality of life and costs. The inclusion of mild reactions to fruits and vegetables could result in calculation of prevalence exceeding 10% in some regions. There are data from numerous studies to suggest an increase in prevalence, but methodologic concerns warrant caution. Prevalence varies by age, geographic location, and possibly race/ethnicity. Many childhood food allergies resolve. Population-based epidemiologic studies have generated numerous novel theories regarding risks, including modifiable factors such as components of the maternal and infant diet, obesity, and the timing of food introduction. Recent and ongoing studies provide insights on risk factors, prevalence, and natural course that may inform clinical trials to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
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            The epidemiology of food allergy in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

            Food allergy (FA) is an important atopic disease although its precise burden is unclear. This systematic review aimed to provide recent, up-to-date data on the incidence, prevalence, time trends, and risk and prognostic factors for FA in Europe. We searched four electronic databases, covering studies published from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2012. Two independent reviewers appraised the studies and qualified the risk of bias using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Seventy-five eligible articles (comprising 56 primary studies) were included in a narrative synthesis, and 30 studies in a random-effects meta-analysis. Most of the studies were graded as at moderate risk of bias. The pooled lifetime and point prevalence of self-reported FA were 17.3% (95% CI: 17.0-17.6) and 5.9% (95% CI: 5.7-6.1), respectively. The point prevalence of sensitization to ≥1 food as assessed by specific IgE was 10.1% (95% CI: 9.4-10.8) and skin prick test 2.7% (95% CI: 2.4-3.0), food challenge positivity 0.9% (95% CI: 0.8-1.1). While the incidence of FA appeared stable over time, there was some evidence that the prevalence may be increasing. There were no consistent risk or prognostic factors for the development or resolution of FA identified, but sex, age, country of residence, familial atopic history, and the presence of other allergic diseases seem to be important. Food allergy is a significant clinical problem in Europe. The evidence base in this area would benefit from additional studies using standardized, rigorous methodology; data are particularly required from Eastern and Southern Europe. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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              The factor structure and factor stability of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in patients with cancer.

              An exploratory factor analysis of the HAD was carried out in 568 cancer patients. Two distinct, but correlated, factors emerged which corresponded to the questionnaire's anxiety and depression subscales. The factor structure proved stable when subsamples of the total sample were investigated. The internal consistency of the two subscales was also high. These results provide support for the use of the separate subscales of the HAD in studies of emotional disturbance in cancer patients.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                J Allergy (Cairo)
                J Allergy (Cairo)
                JA
                Journal of Allergy
                Hindawi Publishing Corporation
                1687-9783
                1687-9791
                2016
                27 June 2016
                : 2016
                : 1497375
                Affiliations
                Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
                Author notes

                Academic Editor: Marek L. Kowalski

                Author information
                http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0578-652X
                http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5561-0904
                Article
                10.1155/2016/1497375
                4939330
                27429624
                ee7dace1-0fb3-432e-821c-2136f0242536
                Copyright © 2016 Gurkiran Birdi et al.

                This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                : 29 March 2016
                : 14 May 2016
                : 2 June 2016
                Categories
                Research Article

                Immunology
                Immunology

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