Publications by authors named "Timothy D H Smith"
Article Synopsis
- Cow's milk allergy (CMA) overdiagnosis is rising, leading to an increase in prescriptions for low-allergy formulas in England, which grew from 6.1 to 23.3 liters per birth between 2007 and 2023.
- Prescription rates for these formulas varied widely by region, ranging from 0.8 to 47.6 liters per birth from 2017-2019, with significant correlations identified between low-allergy formula prescriptions and the use of certain medications like milk feed thickeners and anti-reflux medications in children.
- Regional socio-economic factors and standard CMA guidelines showed no significant association with the rates of low-allergy formula prescribing.
Background: Cow's milk allergy (CMA) overdiagnosis in young children appears to be increasing and has not been well characterised. We used a clinical trial population to characterise CMA overdiagnosis and identify individual-level and primary care practice-level risk factors.
Methods: We analysed data from 1394 children born in England in 2014-2016 (BEEP trial, ISRCTN21528841).
Purpose: Evidence from studies mainly in children has shown that orally administered probiotics may prevent respiratory tract infections and associated antibiotic use. We evaluated whether advice to take daily probiotics can reduce antibiotic prescribing for winter respiratory tract infections in people with asthma.
Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled, parallel-group pragmatic study for participants aged 5 years and older with asthma in a UK primary care setting.