Health disparities in pediatric food allergy

Objective: To review the current literature regarding the health disparities in the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of pediatric food allergy and discuss possible interventions.

Data sources: Literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases regarding pediatric food allergy and health disparities.

Study selections: Original research articles, reviews, and guidelines on health disparities in pediatric food allergy were included in this review.

Results: The overall prevalence of food allergy appears to be increasing and disproportionately affecting minority groups. Racial and socioeconomic disparities are evident across all aspects of food allergy care: diagnosis, prevention, acute management (eg, access to epinephrine autoinjectors, visits to emergency department), and long-term management (eg, oral immunotherapy). Children of minority populations and those of low socioeconomic status are at a greater risk of food insecurity, which is further exacerbated by the high cost of allergen-free foods and limited support from food assistance programs.

Conclusion: Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in food allergy among children in the United States are evident and negatively affect the outcomes of children with food allergies. Active efforts to decrease racial and socioeconomic disparities, through education, research, and advocacy, will be important to help improve health outcomes in food allergy for all children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.