Question What are the associations of food allergy and other allergic conditions with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children?
Findings This cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from 199 520 children aged 3 to 17 years who participated in the US National Health Interview Survey from 1997 to 2016. Children with food, respiratory, and skin allergies were significantly more likely to have ASD than children without these allergies.
Meaning Common allergic conditions, in particular food allergy, are associated with ASD among US children, but the underlying mechanism for this association needs further study.