Open AccessFood induced anaphylaxis in Irish children
Author(s) -
Maris Ioana,
O'Sullivan Ronan,
Hourihane Jonathan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clinical and translational allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.979
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2045-7022
DOI - 10.1186/2045-7022-5-s3-p102
Subject(s) - medicine , anaphylaxis , food allergy , incidence (geometry) , anaphylactic reactions , allergy , pediatrics , food allergens , allergen , emergency department , emergency medicine , immunology , physics , psychiatry , optics
Results 51 reported anaphylaxis cases to date, with data available for 37. There were 23 (62%) boys and 27 (73%) new patients in this group. Food was the implicated allergen in 29/37 (78%). Peanut and cashew were the most frequent foods involved (24%), followed by egg (17%) and milk (14%). 62% of the cases were exposed to food allergens at home. Skin (92%) and airway symptoms (89%) predominated, with gastro-intestinal (48%) and cardio-vascular symptoms (46%) also frequent. One fatal anaphylaxis occurred, due to peanut. 84% of cases presented to hospital either directly (51%) or referred by a General Practitioner (32%). Adrenaline i.m. was given in 21/37 cases (57%). Adrenaline was self/parentinjected in 4 cases (19%), by a GP in 10 (47%), after arrival in hospital in 6 (28%), and by paramedics in 1 case. In the 10 known patients group, 3/6 (50%) used their prescribed Adrenaline Auto injectors, and 4/10 (40%) had not been prescribed Adrenaline. Conclusion Food allergens are the main triggers for anaphylaxis in children. The rate of Adrenaline usage clearly needs to improve in Ireland and low usage of prescribed Adrenaline emphasizes the need for educational and other support strategies for patients and physicians.