Food allergies and intolerance in preschool children

Nepodnošljivost (intolerancija) hrane i alergija na hranu dva su različita pojma koja se često isprepleću, a označavaju neželjenu, za organizam štetnu reakciju na hranu. Alergijske manifestacije uzrokovane preosjetljivošću na nutritivne alergene češće se javljaju u djece nego u odraslih. Intolerancija na hranu očituje se kao nepoželjna reakcija organizma na unos određene hrane ili sastojaka hrane, posebice pri unosu većih količina hrane. Nealergijska preosjetljivost na hranu odnosno intolerancija ne uključuje imunološki sustav, premda simptomi nalikuju onima kod klasične alergije posredovane s IgE-om, ali su blaži i kraće traju. Istraživanje je provedeno u tri dječja vrtića na području Varaždinske županije, u vremenskom razdoblju od 01.09.2019.-06.11.2019. godine. Uzorak obuhvaća 209 roditelja djece predškolske dobi od 1 do 6 godina, koja pohađaju navedene vrtiće. Anketa je u potpunosti anonimna i sastoji se od 23 pitanja. Rezultati istraživanja: roditelji su u prosjeku dobro informirani o pojmu alergija 45,45% i intolerancija 42,11%, roditelji su pokazali veću upoznatost o pojmu alergija 77,99% u odnosu na pojam intolerancija 64,11%, možemo zaključiti da postoje djeca s alergijom i intolerancijom na hranu koja nemaju omogućen prilagođen obrok u vrtiću te su roditelji primorani njihov obrok pripremati kod kuće 1,91%. Medicinska sestra edukacijom, savjetovanjem, vođenjem te psihosocijalnom potporom pomaže roditeljima pri stjecanju znanja i potrebnih vještina za prepoznavanje nutritivne alergije i intolerancije te simptoma koji zahtijevaju pojačani nadzor sestre (proljev, uočene primjese poput sluzi i krvi u stolici, izrazito neugodan miris stolice te pojava urtikarije...).Food intolerance (intolerance) and food allergy are two different terms that are often intertwined and indicate an unwanted, adverse to the body reaction to food. Allergic manifestations caused by hypersensitivity to nutritional allergens occur more frequently in children than in adults. Food intolerance is manifested as an undesirable reaction of the body to the intake of certain foods or food ingredients, especially when ingesting large amounts of food. Non-allergic food hypersensitivity or intolerance does not alert the immune system, although the symptoms resemble those of IgE-mediated classical allergies, but are milder and shorter in duration. The study was conducted in three kindergartens in the Varaždin County, in the period from 1 September to 6 November 2019. The sample included 209 parents of preschool children from 1 to 6 years of age attending the aforementioned kindergartens. The survey is completely anonymous and consists of 23 questions. Survey results: parents are well informed on average about allergies 45.45% and intolerance 42.11%, parents showed more awareness about allergies 77.99% compared to intolerance 64.11%. We can conclude that there are children with food allergy and intolerance who do not have a custom kindergarten meal enabled and parents are forced to prepare their meal at home, 1.91%. Education, counselling, guidance and psychosocial support provided by a nurse helps parents acquire the knowledge and skills needed to identify nutritional allergy and intolerance, and symptoms that require increased nurse supervision (diarrhea, substances detected as mucus and blood stools, highly unbearable stool stench, and occurrence of urticaria...)