Methods: This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study based on secondary data collected from a standardized first consultation's form, regarding clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients who have requested special formulas due to previous diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy and were referred to a Municipal Health Centre of Food Allergy in Central Brazil.
Results: Between January 2011 and May 2012, 449 patients (55 % male) were admitted. The mean age at admission was 11.34 months (± 8.03), while the average age of onset of symptoms suggestive of food allergy was 3.87 months (± 4.19). Almost 90% of the patients presented symptoms during the first year of life. Extensively hydrolyzed formulas were the mostly requested. Absolute predominance of not-IgE-mediated cases was noted (88,4%), typically with late presentation and preponderance of digestive (91.3 %) and systemic (33.4 %) symptoms, with rare anaphylactic reactions (03 cases). Children under one year have had significantly more digestive symptoms than older infants. At admission time, 24.6% infants younger than 6 months were underweight ( z < -2 weight-for-age score). Despite the family history of atopy in up to 75% of cases, over 80% of children had consumed milk with intact cow's milk protein at weaning. Half the patients using soy formulas have started their consumption before 6 months of life. The proportion of infants with the diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease was 68%, and 90% of them were taking acid suppressors drugs.
Conclusions: The better characterization of the population seeking special formulas allows the generation of public health interventions in the fields of prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and also optimize overall patient care combined with effectiveness and lower costs.