ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE CRIANÇAS ALÉRGICAS À PROTEÍNA DO LEITE DE VACA ATENDIDAS EM UM MUNICÍPIO DE MÉDIO PORTE DO ESTADO DE GOIÁS

Abstract

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is an immune response of the immune system that is triggered by the exposure of pre-sensitized individuals to cow's milk proteins. CMPA mainly affects children under 3 years of age due to intestinal immaturity and consequent high permeability of the epithelium. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, data related to diagnosis and nutritional status of children with CMPA who use infant formula provided by the Municipal Health Department of the city of Piracanjuba - GO. To this end, a quantitative survey of the diagnosed children was carried out, a questionnaire was applied to identify symptoms, formulas used, age and diagnostic method, in addition to the anthropometric assessment of the children. The results showed that gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea with the presence of blood, were the most frequent, and the oral provocation test, considered the gold standard, was the most used diagnostic method. The anthropometric analysis indicated that the children are at an adequate weight, suggesting that the diet is meeting their energy needs. Therefore, the importance of continuous nutritional monitoring is highlighted to ensure adequate growth and avoid complications associated with the exclusion of milk and its derivatives. It is concluded that the study contributes to understanding the characteristics of children with CMPA, including the most common symptoms, the main diagnostic methods and most commonly used formulas.