HealthDay News – Updated infant feeding guidelines recommending early introduction of eggs led to measurable reductions in the prevalence of egg allergy in the Australian population, according to a study published online June 8 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Coplin, Ph.D., of the University of Queensland in South Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues estimated the change in the prevalence of egg allergy in the population following updated guidelines that recommended early introduction of eggs into infants’ diets. The analysis included infants aged 11 to 15 months who attended the 12-month immunization visit in Australia, before (2007 to 2011; 5276 infants) and after (2018 to 2019; 1933 infants) guideline changes.
The researchers found that the average age at introduction of eggs decreased from 8 months in 2007 to 2011 to 6 months in 2018 to 2019. The prevalence of egg allergy decreased from 9.2% in 2007 to 2011 to 7.6% in 2018 to 2019, when adjusting for known allergy risk factors. Among infants with early-onset eczema, egg allergy decreased from 34.6 to 21.9 percent (adjusted absolute difference, -12.7 percentage points).
“We also found significant uptake of the updated guidelines in the community, which is essential for any impact,” the authors wrote.
Several authors disclosed relationships with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
