Socio-economic impact of objectively-diagnosed allergy to staple foods in children and adolescents

Background Our group has previously described that indirect and intangible costs substantially burden households with a food allergic adult. We now extend our investigation to children and adolescents. Objective To estimate the total, direct, indirect and intangible costs of food allergy, in households with at least one child or adolescent with objectively-diagnosed allergy to staple foods (cow’ sm ilk, wheat and/or hen’s egg), and to compare these costs with age- and sex- matched controls. Methods Participants included 84 children and 60 adolescents (cases), and 94 children and 56 adolescents (controls). Direct and indirect cost data collected via the Food Allergy Socio-Economic Questionnaire (developed by EuroPrevall) from parents of children and adolescents with objectivelydiagnosed allergy to staple foods (cases) were compared to data from age- and sex-matched controls, and calculated as annual household costs. Total costs were defined as direct + indirect costs. Direct and indirect costs were also considered independently. Intangible costs included measures of self-reported health, standard of living and losses of well-being. Results