Improving Nutrient Intake and Growth in Children With Multiple Food Allergies

This is a prospective observational study with repeated measure design. All participants
aged 6 months to 6 years diagnosed with two or more food allergies will be invited to
participate in the research study. At least one of the two food allergies must be milk, egg,
wheat, or soy, which are nutritionally important food allergies. Inclusion criteria include
diagnosis of two or more food allergies confirmed with skin prick testing or serum specific
IgE (SIgE)testing. Participants aged 12 months or older will be invited to participate in
the Mealtime Behavior Questionnaire (MBQ) and Feeding Strategies Questionnaire (FSQ).
Participants with developmental delay, genetic syndromes or other chronic medical conditions
will be excluded from the study. Participants with two or more food allergies that do not
have at least one nutritionally important food allergy (milk, egg, wheat, soy) will not be
invited to participate in the study. We will also exclude participants with a history of
digestive surgery, non English-speaking patients, and patients currently receiving nutrition
support (enteral or parenteral nutrition). Patients will be excluded if they received
greater than one week of oral steroids in the previous three months. Exclusively breastfed
infants will be excluded from the study as their nutrient intake cannot accurately assessed
(must consume at least some foods or formulas). We will include patients if they have
asthma, eczema, or both. There will be no control group recruited for the study as
comparisons will be made within the study population.

Subjects will be recruited from the Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology Clinic at the main campus
of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. At the first visit with the dietitian, subjects will be
enrolled and consent will be obtained. Height, weight, and head circumference (until 2 YO)
will be measured and recorded using standard procedures. The Mealtime Behavior Questionnaire
(MBQ) and Feeding Strategies Questionnaire (FSQ) will be filled out by the parent or
guardian. Demographic data and medical history will be obtained. Height/length, weight, and
head circumference from the first allergist visit will be obtained from the medical record
and recorded for use in the study. A multiple-pass 24-hour recall will be completed. In
addition, they will receive standardized nutrition intervention to include nutrition
assessment, food allergy education, and general nutrition education.

The participant will attend a second visit with the dietitian. Height, weight, and head
circumference will be measured and recorded using standard procedures. A multiple-pass
24-hour recall will be completed. The participant's parent or guardian will complete the MBQ
and FSQ. Follow-up nutrition intervention will include nutrition reassessment, food allergy
education as needed, and general nutrition education as needed.

All aspects of this study, with the exception of MBQ, and FSQ, are the current standard of
care in the Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology clinic for patients with multiple food
allergies.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age 6 months to 6 years

- 2 or more food allergies

- At least one of the food allergies must be milk, egg, wheat, or soy

- Confirmed with skin prick testing or SIgE

- Diagnosed at CHW Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology Clinic

- Second opinions are included as long as patient has never been seen by a dietitian
for food allergies

Exclusion Criteria:

- Previously seen by a dietitian for food allergies

- Developmental delay

- Genetic syndrome

- Other chronic medical conditions besides asthma, eczema, or eosinophilic esophagitis

- Hyper-IgE syndrome

- Immune deficiency disease

- History of digestive surgery

- Non-English speaking

- Currently receiving nutrition support (enteral or parenteral nutrition)

- Received oral steroids for more than 7 days in the previous three months