Prevalence of cow's milk protein allergy among children in a university community hospital

INTRODUCTION: Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most common food allergy in pediatrics. In Argentina, the prevalence of this disease has been evaluated in a few trials. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of CMPA and describe its variation throughout a period of 11 years. POPULATION AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in live newborn infants enrolled in a health care program of a university community hospital. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen cases of children with CMPA were identified. Cumulative prevalence was 0.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.95). A percent increase of 0.4% in 2004 to 1.2% in 2014 was observed in the number of cases per year. CONCLUSION: In 2014, CMPA prevalence was 1.2%, i.e. three times that of 2004.