Excessive Food Restriction in Children with Atopic Dermititis

Article information

Korean J Community Nutr. 2011;16(6):627-635

Publication date (electronic) : 2011 December 31

doi : https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.6.627

Seokhwa Lee , Heejin Lee , Youngshin Han ¹, Kangmo Ahn ¹, Sangil Lee ¹, Sang-Jin Chung

Department of Foods and Nutrition, Kookmin University, Seoul, Korea.

¹Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Sang-Jin Chung, 861-1 Jeongneungdong, Seongbukgu, Department of Foods and Nutrition, Kookmin University, Seoul 136-702, Korea. Tel: (02) 910-4777, Fax: (02) 910-5249, schung@kookmin.ac.kr

Received 2011 October 04; Revised 2011 October 20; Accepted 2011 November 28.

Abstract

The prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis (AD), a non-infective chronic inflammatory skin disease, is increasing worldwide. Avoiding the allergen is the basic principle in the treatment of AD. However, when the allergen is food, excessive restriction can lead to nutrition deficiency. The objective of the study was to examine the status of the dietary restriction and compare the caregiver's restriction practice with doctor's recommendation in Korean children with AD. A total of 158 children diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis were recruited for this study. Information about foods that aggravate AD symptoms and food restriction were collected from the mothers of 158 children aged 6 month-5 year with AD using questionnaires. Food restriction recommendation by doctor was collected through medical chart. McNemar and Margianl homogeneity tests were used to detect a relationship between food restriction recommended by doctor and current practice by mother. There were significant proportion differences of food restriction for each food between by doctor and mother. We found 75.9% of children were avoiding eggs although only 61.4% were recommended for egg restriction by a doctor. Children with restriction of more than 4 kinds of food were 53.2% compared to 13.3% by doctor. Excessive restrictors tended to be younger and diagnosed at younger age. The caregivers of excessive restrictors had trends of "being older" and "having higher income". Avoidance of common foods in children without food allergy could result in malnutrition or impaired growth. Nutrition education is needed for sound practice and nutrition care in children with Atopic Dermatitis as well as interactive communication between caregivers and experts.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; food restriction; children

Notes

This work was supported by Ministry of Environment in Korea.

This work was supported by the research program 2010 of Kookmin University in Korea.

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