Evaluation of Children with Suspected Beta Lactam Allergy: A Retrospective Study

Objective: Hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactams are often reported in children. Although many of these children are considered to be allergic, a careful evaluation only confirms a low percentage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical data and diagnostic methods used in children with a clinical history of hypersensitivity reactions to betalactams. Material and Methods: The medical records of patients presenting with suspected beta-lactam allergy were evaluated retrospectively between June 2013 to December 2015 at the Dokuz Eylul University’s Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. results: In total, data of 33 patients were obtained from medical records. Only 5 (13.8%) of the patients had an allergy. Skin prick test, intradermal test and oral provocation test (OPT) were administered to 15 (45.4%) patients and 3 of the patients were diagnosed as having hypersensitivity to culprit drugs (1 amoxicillin, 1 cefuroxime and 1 both cefuroxime and ampicillin). A total of 18 patients with non-immediate cutaneous reactions without systemic symptoms were administered penicilloyl Gand V-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and OPT and 2 patients were diagnosed as having isolated clavulanic acid allergy. conclusion: Beta-lactam allergies could be overdiagnosed and a careful evaluation should be performed for accurate diagnosis. For children with non-immediate cutaneous reactions, OPTs are safe and effective. key Words: Child, Beta-lactam allergy, Drug 1Buca Kadın Doğum ve Çocuk Hastalıkları Hastanesi, Çocuk Alerji Bölümü, İzmir, Türkiye 2Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Çocuk Alerji ve İmmünoloji Bilim Dalı, İzmir, Türkiye 3Süreyyapaşa Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Göğüs Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Çocuk İmmünoloji ve Alerji Bölümü, İstanbul, Türkiye 4Diyarbakır Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Çocuk İmmünoloji ve Alerji Bölümü, Diyarbakır, Türkiye Şule ÇAĞLAYAN SÖZMEN1, Seda KÖSE2, Dilek TEZCAN2, Sakine IŞIK3, Zeynep ARIKAN AYYILDIZ4, Suna ASİLSOY2, Nevin UZUNER2, Özden ANAL2, Özkan KARAMAN2 Beta Laktam Alerji Şüphesi Olan Çocukların Değerlendirilmesi: Retrospektif Bir Çalışma Evaluation of Children with Suspected Beta Lactam Allergy: A Retrospective Study