Food-induced anaphylaxis in early childhood and factors associated with its severity
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background: Several factors that increase the risk of severe food-induced anaphylaxis have been identified. Objective: We aimed to determine the demographic, etiologic, and clinical features of food-induced anaphylaxis in early childhood and also any other factors associated with severe anaphylaxis. Methods:We carried out a medical chart review of anaphylaxis cases from 16 pediatric allergy and immunology centers in Turkey. Results: The data of 227 patients with 266 food-induced anaphylaxis episodes were included in the study. The median (interquartile range) age of the first anaphylaxis episode was 9 months (6-18 months); 160 of these patients were boys (70.5%). The anaphylaxis episodes were mild in 75 cases (28.2%), moderate in 154 cases (57.9%), and severe in 37 cases (13.9%). The most frequent food allergens involved were cow's milk (47.4%), nuts (16.7%), and hen's egg (15.8%). Epinephrine was administered in only 98 (36.8%) of these anaphylaxis episodes. A logistic regression analysis revealed two statistically significant factors that were independently associated with severe anaphylaxis: the presence of angioedema and hoarseness during the anaphylactic episode. Urticaria was observed less frequently in patients who developed hypotension. In addition, confusion and syncope were associated with 25.9- and 44.6-fold increases, respectively, in the risk of concomitant hypotension. Conclusion: Cow's milk, nuts, and hen's egg caused the majority of mild and moderate-to-severe anaphylaxis episodes. The presence of angioedema and hoarseness in any patient who presents with a history of food-induced anaphylaxis should alert clinicians that the reaction may be severe. In addition, the presence of confusion, syncope, or stridor probably indicates concomitant hypotension. Copyright © 2021, OceanSide Publications, Inc., U.S.A.
Description
Keywords
Allergens , Anaphylaxis , Angioedema , Animals , Cattle , Egg Hypersensitivity , Female , Food Hypersensitivity , Hoarseness , Humans , Hypotension , Infant , Male , Milk Hypersensitivity , Nut Hypersensitivity , Syncope , Turkey , epinephrine , food allergen , allergen , anaphylaxis , angioneurotic edema , child , clinical feature , confusion , controlled study , disease severity , egg allergy , faintness , female , food allergy , food induced anaphylaxis , hoarseness , human , hypotension , infant , intensive care unit , major clinical study , male , medical record review , milk allergy , nut allergy , onset age , repeated drug dose , retrospective study , Review , Turkey (republic) , urticaria , anaphylaxis , angioneurotic edema , animal , bovine , complication , food allergy , hypotension , milk allergy , turkey (bird)