Resource implications and budget impact of managing cow milk allergy in the UK

Abstract

CMA imposes a substantial burden on the NHS. Any strategy that improves healthcare delivery and thereby shortens time to treatment, time to diagnosis and time to symptom resolution should potentially decrease the burden this allergy imposes on the health service and release resources for alternative use.

Household Costs Associated with Objectively Diagnosed Allergy to Staple Foods in Children and Adolescents

“…Although the prevalence of food allergy amongst children and adults appears to be similar, 2 these costs for society are disproportionately higher in childhood than adulthood. 3 For households, food allergy-related costs are also highest in the first year after diagnosis 4 and amongst those less than 4 years of age. 3 Children with food allergies have higher costs related to office visits and outpatient department visits than adults.…”

Feeding difficulties in children with food protein‐induced gastrointestinal allergies

“…It is known that there is often a significant delay in the diagnosis of FPGIA, 17 as there is no reliable, noninvasive diagnostic test that can be performed, and therefore the diagnosis mainly relies on the recognition of symptoms and a trial elimination diet. [18][19][20] Our data confirm this delay in clinical care with the occurrence of symptoms at a median age of 5 months and the first appointment in a specialist tertiary gastrointestinal center much later (median age 5 years).…”

Practice of the Treatment of Milk Allergy in the UK: A National Audit

“…CMA presents unique challenges among food allergies. The presentation varies widely, often with symptoms easily ascribed to common infant conditions like reflux or colic, with a consequent delay to diagnosis [5]. In addition, affected individuals are effectively allergic to their entire diet so that a treatment plan of allergen avoidance alone is not enough, as dietary solutions of alternative milks need implementing immediately.…”