Milk Is Most Common Cause of Fatal Food Allergy Among Children in UK

Cow’s milk is now the most common cause of fatal anaphylaxis in older children across the United Kingdom, according to data published in the BMJ. The authors tracked hospital admissions caused by food anaphylaxis and related deaths from 1998 to 2018 in the UK using national data. Hospital admissions caused by food allergies rose by 5.7% each year with the largest increase among children younger than 15 at 6.6%. Although case fatality rates decreased, results showed 26% of deaths were caused by cow’s milk allergies, now the most common single cause of food anaphylaxis-related death in the UK. Results also showed a more than 300% increase in prescriptions for emergency anaphylaxis treatment. Similar hospital admission data have been reported in Australia and in the United States. The authors call for more education on the dangers of cow’s milk allergies.