Multiple food allergies in children

Children with multiple food allergies constitute a significant fraction of the population of food allergic children. They are above all characterized by early and severe eczema. Asthma is frequently associated with their food allergy and it constitutes an important factor in these cases. New diagnostic techniques can help differentiate sensitization and allergies and allow avoidance of the prescription of too restrictive diets. Oral provocation tests should be repeated at regular intervals with as objective to initiate induction of oral food tolerance. Too strict food avoidance does not favor curing the allergies and can indeed have grave effects, e.g., influence on growth, deficits in calcium and vitamins, important psychosocial repercussions. Dietetic and psychological consultations can be very important in the care of these children. Patient education is also fundamental because it helps the patient to avoid certain foods, to learn to read and to interpret the labeling of groceries, to learn to treat in a suitable way his allergic reactions, and to verify the correct use of an auto-injectable adrenalin syringe and of asthma inhalation devices. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.