To date, various manifestations of allergic reactions and diseases are registered in 15-35% of the population according to the World Health Organization, and in recent years there has been a constant tendency to increase [1]. The first sign of allergic pathology in children, as a rule, is a food allergy, which is mainly manifested by atopic dermatitis. According to official statistics, the rate of atopic dermatitis in Ukraine is known to range from 3 to 10 per 1000 children [2]. However, the results obtained in some regions of our country according to studies under the standardized international program ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood), exceed the above figures by 5-10 times [3]. This situation can be explained by the presence of terminological differences in the interpretation of atopic dermatitis in children, different methodological approaches to statistical research, clinical and age-related polymorphism of the disease. The development of atopic march can begin with a food allergy, so all efforts of physicians should be directed to prevent the transformation of skin forms into respiratory ones and provide the patient and his/her parents with a full quality of life [4,5]. The “School of Atopy” operates under the auspices of the MNPE “Lviv City Children’s Clinical Hospital” and the Lviv City Children’s Allergological Center, where a model of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with food allergies according to European standards was reproduced. Every patient treated for food allergies goes from diagnosis to treatment. Of course, great emphasis is placed on preventing and predicting the development of atopic march in children and improving the quality of life of patients and their parents.
The aim: To determine the significance of multidisciplinary approach to management of pediatric patients with skin symptoms of food allergy.
Materials and methods: The study included of 36 patients aged 4 to 6 years with skin manifestations of food allergy, of which 18 were randomly included in the study group and had a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and the other 18 patients constituted a comparison group and used a standard therapy regimen. Observation of children was carried out for 3 months.
Results: Assessment of the severity of the cutaneous form of food allergy by SCORAD score showed the average degree of disease activity in the groups of the study at the beginning of treatment and significantly better dynamics in patients of the study group (p=0.0055). In 88.9% (n=16) of patients in the study group and 61.1% (n=11) of the control group, the process became mild.
Conclusions: The application of a multidisciplinary approach allows the integrated implementation of medical, nutritional, and psychological aspects, which significantly increases the effectiveness of treatment and improves the quality of life of patients and their parents.