Introduction:

The prevalence and incidence of gastrointestinal food allergy has increased in recent years with high associated costs, but usually with a good prognosis; nonetheless, in Colombia, information is scarce. This study intends to describe demographic variables, symptomatology, clinical picture, nutritional status, management, and natural history of the disease, determine its prevalence in the Colombian pediatric population by age group, and describe its direct costs.

Materials and methods:

The study was conducted in three phases. In the first, we estimated the prevalence of the disease from the review of the RIPS and MIPRES databases between 2015 and 2019. Secondly, we checked the medical records selected per the inclusion and exclusion criteria for characterization and costs. Lastly, through a telephone survey, we asked about the current state of the disease and its resolution.

Results:

The estimated prevalence adjusted for underreporting was 0.04 % for the pediatric population and 0.148 % for those under five. The most frequent diagnoses were allergic proctocolitis (59.3 %) and secondary functional gastrointestinal disorders (13.9 %). The most frequent allergen was cow’s milk protein. Early management is related to an excellent nutritional prognosis. Direct costs are mainly related to using formulas (92 %) and medical appointments (3.4 %); 89 % of parents consider that the food allergy will resolve over time.

Conclusions:

This retrospective study is the most extensive in Colombia, drawing local conclusions that may be compared with other countries.

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