ALERGIA ALIMENTAR EM CRIANÇAS PORTADORAS DE TRANSTORNO DO ESPECTRO AUTISTA (TEA): EXPERIÊNCIA EM UM SERVIÇO PÚBLICO DO DISTRITO FEDERAL

Objective: To demonstrate the association of food allergy with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as reported and diagnosed by a physician or other healthcare professional, in a public outpatient service in the Federal District. Methods: Analytical Cross-sectional Study. Medical records of all children aged 3 to 10 years diagnosed with ASD at the Ceilândia Polyclinic between May 2023 and May 2024 were reviewed. Results: Approximately 84.6% of the participants were male and 15.4% female, with an average age of 6 years. Among the participants, 69.2% had a milk allergy, 23.1% had an egg allergy, and 69.2% were diagnosed with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). The most common food allergy symptoms reported were abdominal distension in 84.6% of cases, diarrhea in 53.8%, abdominal pain in 53.8%, and bloody stools in 38.5%. All patients followed dietary restrictions, but no behavioral improvements in ASD were observed after dietary changes. Additionally, 7.7% of the children were on medication for ASD. Conclusion: Children with ASD show a high prevalence of food allergies in the institution, primarily to milk and less frequently to eggs, with gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal distension and diarrhea being the most common. However, the lack of behavioral improvements following dietary interventions highlights the need for individualized approaches based on immunological tests and accurate diagnosis, along with nutritional and psychological support for patients and their caregivers.