(Singapore) 4 yr study on "growing prevalence" of food allergies in children planned

June 26, 2025, Prnewswire: NEW SINGAPORE STUDY TO ASSESS GROWING PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF FOOD ALLERGIES

A group of clinicians and researchers from the National University Hospital (NUH), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), National University Polyclinics (NUP) and NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) are embarking on a four-year joint study to determine the prevalence and impact of food allergies in Singaporean children this year.

Rising burden of food allergies . . .

Food allergy is a condition with no definitive cure apart from natural outgrowing. Parents of children with food allergies may face significant challenges, including anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and stress. Accidental exposure to allergens is common and may lead to life-threatening reactions.

NUH and KKH have reported a steady rise in paediatric food allergy cases seen at their clinics, with common allergens being eggs, milk, and peanuts in younger children, and shellfish in adolescents and young adults. In both NUH and KKH, the number of day therapy sessions (food challenges[1]) performed in children has risen by 60 per cent in 2022 to 2024. While this may reflect increasing awareness and concern among parents, it potentially highlights food allergy as an emerging condition in Singapore.

The Singapore Food Allergy Story: A two-phase study

The Singapore Food Allergy Story will be the first and largest study to provide a holistic overview of the burden of food allergies in Singapore. It aims to determine the current prevalence among Singaporean children, as well as the impact on nutrition, growth, metabolic and mental health outcomes, providing insights into the nutritional and psychosocial burden of food allergy.

This study will provide an update to existing data on food allergy prevalence, and for the first time, evaluate the impact, as well as the social and economic burden, of food allergies in Singapore. With these new insights, the hope is to bring greater social and infrastructural support for affected children and families. The study consists of two years of recruitment and two years of data analysis. . . .

The study findings will help to identify nutrient deficiencies, growth and metabolic abnormalities, and feeding behavioural issues, which will inform future guidelines and educational materials on nutrition, dietary management, as well as mental health support for affected families. . . .

Co-Investigator Dr Chong Kok Wee, Head and Senior Consultant, Allergy Service, Department of Paediatric Medicine, KKH, said: "At KKH, we have seen a concerning upward trend in food allergy cases in recent years, making this research a critical step to address the issue. As the first and largest study of its kind in Singapore, this study marks a significant milestone in our nation's approach towards understanding and managing the impact of food allergies in children. By examining the medical and psychosocial aspects of food allergies, the findings from this research will serve as an instrumental guide for us to establish evidence-based strategies to enhance the quality of life for children living with food allergies and provide better guidance for healthcare professionals managing these allergies." . . .