Food Allergies

    Equip Parents with Allergy Knowledge.

    Infant Allergy Awareness Month is an ideal time to talk with parents about the rising rates of food allergies, and what that means for their infants.

    In the last 20 years, the rate of food allergies among U.S. children ages 0-4 has increased ~30%1. Researchers are working to discover the causes, but so far clear answers are elusive. Some hypothesize that epigenetic and environmental factors are at play2, while others suggest lack of early exposure to important microbes3. One thing we do know is that young children are the most commonly affected4.

    Help Parents Identify Their Infant’s Potential Allergies

    Download Indications Guide

    Food Allergy by the Numbers

    Raising awareness for food allergies, especially early in childhood, is important.

    Infants with food allergies are up to 4x more likely to exhibit other allergies as they grow7.

    Infants with certain food allergies, including egg, fish, and cow’s milk allergy (CMA), often present other allergic manifestations later in life. This association, known as the “Allergic March,” refers to the progression of the allergic response. It typically begins with atopic dermatitis and food allergy in infancy, progresses to aeroallergen sensitization in pre-elementary ages, and culminates in allergic rhinitis and/or chronic asthma later in life8.

    Clinical Study

    Allergic Manifestation in Children with CMA

    Download Study

    Supporting oral tolerance and gut development can help infants overcome food allergies and reduce the likelihood of the Allergic March.

    Most infants who have CMA build tolerance to cow’s milk protein by 3–5 years of age9-11. Extensively hydrolyzed protein formula is the first-line recommendation for CMA, over soy or amino acid formulas and has been shown to support the development of oral tolerance12.

    Comprehensive CMA Management Supports Gut Development.

    Extensively hydrolyzed formula (eHF) with the probiotic LGG has been shown to reduce the likelihood of allergy progression13.

    Download MOA

    Classification of Adverse Reactions to Food.

    FODMAP: fermentable oligo-di-mono-saccharides and poly

    Management changes outcomes for infants with CMA.

    Watch Dr. Christina Valentine review background significance and key highlights from recent studies on early relief and long-term outcomes for infants with CMA.

    Looking for a solution to support your patients with food allergies? Learn More About Mead Johnson’s CMA Options.

    See CMA Options

    Teaching Parents About the Indications: Allergy vs Intolerance

    Explaining allergic response to parents can be challenging because of the complex nature of the disease process. Plus, as you know, not all children who react to a certain food have an allergy. Instead, they may have a food intolerance to components such as lactose or gluten.

    GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease.

    LGG is a registered trademark of Chr. Hansen A/S.
    * Published study showing fewer incidences of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, urticaria, and eczema at 3 years in infants with CMA compared to formula without LGG. Feeding began at 4 months of age or older in the study.
    † Published study showing fewer incidences of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, urticaria and eczema at 3 years compared to Nutramigen® without LGG. Feeding began at 4 months of age or older in the study.

    Downloadable Resources

    Study: Extensively hydrolyzed casein formula containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG reduces the occurrence of other allergic manifestations in children with cow’s milk allergy: 3-year randomized controlled trial

    Video: CMA: Outcomes That Matter

    MOA:MJN 3-un-1-Method of Action PDF

    References

    1. National Center for Health Statistics. Table 35. In: Health, United States, 2017: With special feature on mortality. Hyattsville, MD. 2018.
    2. Savage J et al. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2015;35:45-59.
    3. Jones SM et al. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:1168-1176.
    4. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Allergy Facts and Figures. Available at: https://www.aafa.org/allergy-facts/. Access on April 7, 2020.
    5. Fair Health. Food Allergy in the United States: Recent Trends and Costs. An Analysis of Private Claims Data. Available at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/media2.fairhealth.org/whitepaper/asset/Food%20Allergy%20White%20Paper%20Final.compressed.pdf. Accessed on April 7, 2020.
    6. Gupta R et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(11):1026-1031.
    7. Branum AM et al. NCHS data brief, no 10. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2008.
    8. Maciag MC, Phipatanakul W. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019;19:161–168.
    9. Bishop JM et al. J Pediatr.1990;116:862-867.
    10. Wood RA. Pediatrics. 2003;111:1631-1637. 
    11. Host A et al. Allergy. 1990;45:587-596. 
    12. Canani RB et al. J Pediatr. 2013;163:771-777.
    13. Canani RB et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139:1906-1913.
    14. Burks AW et al. 2011;128(5):955-965.
    15. Burks AW et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;129(4):906-920.
    16. Tuck CJ et al. Nutrients. 2019;11:1684.
    17. Walsh J et al. Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(649):e609-e611.
    18. du Toit G et al. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2010;95:134-144.