[The impact of today's environment on allergies: can we take action?] / Incidence de l'environnement actuel sur les allergies : peut-on agir ?

Allergic diseases have risen sharply in recent decades. After some epidemiological data, we take a look at the various hypotheses explaining this allergy "epidemic". Changes in our environment, such as pollution, are a source of climate change and an increase in allergic diseases through inflammation of epithelial barriers. Allergy prevention, a public health emergency, relies on environmental actions at both individual and collective levels.

[Primary prevention of food allergy in children]. / Prévention primaire de l'allergie alimentaire de l'enfant.

Pediatricians and allergists have noted a recent increase in cases of food allergy and anaphylaxis to peanuts and nuts, affecting very young children with worrying consequences in terms of quality of life. Children suffering from persistent cow's milk protein allergies that do not heal spontaneously are at very high risk of a fatal accident. Based on the findings of these studies, recommendations for primary prevention are made.

Occupational anaphylaxis-Data from the anaphylaxis registry.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic data on occupational anaphylaxis is scarce, and there is a need of more knowledge about work-related anaphylactic episodes. METHODS: Based on the data of the Anaphylaxis Registry, we identified cases related to occupational exposure and analyzed the elicitors, demographics, severity of clinical reaction and management. RESULTS: Since 2017, 5851 cases with an information about the occupational relation of the anaphylactic episode were registered whereby 225 (3.8%) were assigned to be caused by an occupational allergen. The vast majority of these occupational anaphylaxis cases were caused by insects (n = 186, 82.7%) followed by food (n = 27, 12.0%) and drugs (n = 8, 3.6%). Latex elicited occupational anaphylaxis in only two cases. Beekeepers, gardeners, farmers, and individuals working in professions associated with food handling, for example, employees in restaurants, bakery, pastry, and cooks were most frequently affected. The comparison of the occupational insect venom-induced anaphylaxis to a group of non-occupational insect anaphylaxis in adults (n = 1842) revealed a significant younger age in occupational anaphylaxis (46 vs. 53 years), a predominance of bee-induced cases (38% vs. 17%), and a higher rate of venom immunotherapy in a primary care setting (3.3% vs. 1.3%, p = .044). In the occupational- versus non-occupational adults with food-induced anaphylaxis atopic dermatitis as concomitant atopic disease was observed more frequently (n = 486; 20% vs. 10%), although this was not significant. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate the impact of venom allergy in work-related anaphylaxis. Foods and drugs are less frequently elicitors, and latex-induced occupational anaphylaxis was rare. More data are needed to determine risk factors associated with occupational anaphylaxis.

Fatal and Near-Fatal Anaphylaxis: Data From the European Anaphylaxis Registry and National Health Statistics.

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is a serious systemic reaction-data on fatal and near-fatal reactions are limited. OBJECTIVE: To better understand clinical patterns and risks factors of severe anaphylaxis by a deep analysis of data from fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis. METHODS: Data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry on fatal/near-fatal anaphylactic reactions and national data on anaphylaxis fatalities were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 305 fatal/near-fatal reactions among children and adults including 35 fatalities from the European Anaphylaxis Registry were identified. The most frequent elicitors were drugs, insects, and food. Male patients (66%/60%) were more frequently affected. Male sex, higher age, concomitant mastocytosis, and cardiovascular disease were associated with a more severe outcome. With increasing reaction severity, skin symptoms were less frequently observed (45% of fatal reactions). In parallel, anaphylaxis mortality rates were studied. The data show that anaphylaxis mortality rates increased in Germany from 0.48 (2009) to 0.59 per 1,000,000 population per year (2020). This increase was apparent only in the female population. In this data set, drugs were the most frequent elicitor of anaphylaxis fatalities, and the rate for this increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: We identified not only elicitors but also individual factors to be associated with an increased risk of fatal anaphylaxis. Such patients should be recognized and managed with great caution. The increase in drug-induced fatalities points to the need for a better allergological care of patients suffering from drug hypersensitivity.

Cow's milk and hen's egg anaphylaxis: A comprehensive data analysis from the European Anaphylaxis Registry.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk (CM) and hen's egg (HE) are leading triggers of anaphylaxis in early childhood. The aim of this study was to identify clinical phenotypes and therapeutic measures for CM anaphylaxis (CMA) compared to HE anaphylaxis (HEA) in children up to 12 years of age, based on a large pan-European dataset from the European Anaphylaxis Registry. METHODS: Data from 2007 to 2020 on clinical phenotypes and treatment from 10 European countries, as well as Brazil, were analysed. The two-step cluster analysis was used to identify the most frequent phenotypes. For each trigger, three clusters were extracted based on sex, age, and existence of symptoms in four vitally important systems. RESULTS: Altogether 284 children with CMA and 200 children with HEA were identified. They were characterised as male (69% vs. 64%), infants (65% vs. 61%), with a most frequent grade III of Ring&Messmer classification (62% vs. 64%), in CMA versus HEA, respectively. Respiratory symptoms occurred more often in CMA (91% vs. 83%, p = 0.010), especially in infants (89% vs. 79%, p = 0.008). Cardiovascular symptoms were less frequent in CMA (30% vs. 44%, p = 0.002), in both infants (33% vs. 46%, p = 0.027), and older children (25% vs. 42%, p = 0.021). The clusters extracted in the CMA group were characterised as: (1) mild dermal infants with severe GI (40%), 2. severe dermal (35%), 3. respiratory (25%). While in HEA group: 1. infants with severe GI and/or reduction of alertness (40%), (2) conjunctival (16%), (3) mild GI without conjunctivitis (44%). The severity of the reaction was independent from the amount of ingested allergen protein, regardless of trigger. The first-line adrenaline application differed between the countries (0%-92%, as well as the reasons for not administering adrenaline, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the similarity of their age, sex, and severity grade, the clinical profiles differed between the CMA and HEA children. Adrenaline was underused, and its administration was country dependent. Further studies are needed to assess to what extent the differences in the clinical profiles are related to matrix and/or absorption effects, and/or the allergen itself.

Food-Induced Anaphylaxis: Data From the European Anaphylaxis Registry.

BACKGROUND: Food is one of the most common elicitors of anaphylaxis, with an increasing incidence over recent years. OBJECTIVES: To characterize elicitor-specific phenotypes and identify factors enhancing the risk or severity of food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA). METHODS: We analyzed data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry applying an age- and sex-matched analysis of associations (Cramer's V) for single food triggers and calculated odds ratios (ORs) for severe FIA. RESULTS: We identified 3,427 cases of confirmed FIA showing an age-dependent elicitor ranking (for children: peanut, cow's milk, cashew, and hen's egg; and for adults: wheat flour, shellfish, hazelnut, and soy). The age- and sex-matched analysis revealed defined symptom patterns for wheat and cashew. Wheat-induced anaphylaxis was more frequently associated with cardiovascular symptoms (75.7%; Cramer's V = 0.28) and cashew-induced anaphylaxis with gastrointestinal symptoms (73.9%; Cramer's V = 0.20). Furthermore, concomitant atopic dermatitis was slightly associated with anaphylaxis to hen's egg (Cramer's V = 0.19) and exercise was strongly associated with anaphylaxis to wheat (Cramer's V = 0.56). Additional factors influencing the severity were alcohol intake in wheat anaphylaxis (OR = 3.23; CI, 1.31-8.83) and exercise in peanut anaphylaxis (OR = 1.78; CI, 1.09-2.95). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that FIA is age-dependent. In adults, the range of elicitors inducing FIA is broader. For some elicitors, the severity of FIA seems to be related to the elicitor. These data require confirmation in future studies considering a clear differentiation between augmentation and risk factors in FIA.

Fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis: The Allergy-Vigilance® Network data (2002-2020).

BACKGROUND: Having a better understanding of the risk factors of severe anaphylaxis is a crucial challenge for physicians. METHODS: To retrospectively analyse fatal/near-fatal anaphylaxis cases recorded by the Allergy-Vigilance® Network (2002-2020) and evaluate the characteristics associated with survival, age and allergens. RESULTS: Among the 3510 anaphylaxis cases documented in the network, 70 (2%) patients (males: 57%; mean age: 35.4 y) presented grade 4 (Ring-Messmer) anaphylaxis and 25 died (19 food-related); 33% had a history of asthma. The main allergens were food (60%; peanut, 20%; milks, 11%) involved in 25/26 cases in children and in 17/44 (39%) cases in adults. Non-food anaphylaxis was related to drugs/latex (24%; neuromuscular blocking agents, 10%; betalactamins, 6%), Hymenoptera (16%). Three food-related cases (one death) occurred during oral food challenge in children. Patients with a food allergy were younger (22.2 years vs. 55 years, p < .001), had more likely a history of asthma (50% vs. 7%; p < .001), a pre-existing allergy (62% vs. 18%; p < .001) compared with other allergies. A cofactor was identified in 35 cases (50%) but predominantly in adults as opposed to children (64% vs. 27%; p = .01). The patients who died were younger (25.6 vs. 40.8 years; p = .01) than the survivors and mostly presented bronchospasm (56% vs. 29%; p = .05). Gaps in the prevention and management of anaphylaxis were noted in 15 cases (21%). CONCLUSIONS: Severe food anaphylaxis has specific features compared with other causes such as young age, asthma history and exercise. Food is also involved in severe anaphylaxis in adults that should not be underestimated.

Food-induced anaphylaxis in infancy compared to preschool age: A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known regarding food anaphylaxis in infancy. We aimed to describe specificities of food anaphylaxis in infants (≤12 months) as compared to preschool children (1-6 years). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all food anaphylaxis cases recorded by the Allergy Vigilance Network from 2002 to 2018, in preschool children focusing on infants. RESULTS: Of 1951 food anaphylaxis reactions, 61 (3%) occurred in infants and 386 (20%) in preschool children. Two infants had two anaphylaxis reactions; thus, we analyzed data among 59 infants (male: 51%; mean age: 6 months [SD: 2.9]); 31% had a history of atopic dermatitis, 11% of previous food allergy. The main food allergens were cow's milk (59%), hen's egg (20%), wheat (7%) and peanut (3%) in infants as compared with peanut (27%) and cashew (23%) in preschool children. Anaphylaxis occurred in 28/61 (46%) cases at the first cow's milk intake after breastfeeding discontinuation. Clinical manifestations were mainly mucocutaneous (79%), gastrointestinal (49%), respiratory (48%) and cardiovascular (21%); 25% of infants received adrenaline. Hives, hypotension and neurologic symptoms were more likely to be reported in infants than in preschool children (P = .02; P = .004; P = .002, respectively). Antihistamines and corticosteroids were more often prescribed in preschool children than in infants (P = .005; P = .025, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study found that in infants presenting with their first food allergy, in a setting with a high rate of infant formula use, the most predominant trigger was cow's milk. As compared to older preschool children, hives, hypotonia and hypotension were more likely to be reported in infants. We believe that this represents a distinct food anaphylaxis phenotype that can further support developing the clinical anaphylaxis criteria in infants.

Frey Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the features of Frey syndrome (auriculotemporal nerve dysfunction with gustatory flushing) in childhood. STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter, retrospective, descriptive observational national case series study was conducted with the help of French academic societies. Diagnostic criteria were based on clinical history, and sometimes also on photographs or provocation tests. RESULTS: Forty-eight cases were identified, with 2 subtypes: 35 unilateral and 13 bilateral. Associated sweating was reported in only 10% of cases. Diagnosis was made in only 20% of children at the first consultation and inappropriate dietary restriction was prescribed for 21%. Instrumented vaginal delivery was significantly associated with unilateral forms (OR [unilateral vs bilateral] = 29; 95% CI 3.99-311.58; P < .001). The outcome was favorable overall with 57% regression, 20% recovery, and only 23% persistence of initial symptoms. Regression was more frequent in unilateral forms (OR = 6.60; 95% CI 1.23-44.04; P = .016), observed in 69% of unilateral forms at a median age of 27 (24-48) months. Recovery predominated in bilateral forms (OR = 0.05; 95% CI 0-0.38; P = .001), observed in 58% of bilateral cases at a median age of 8 (7-9) months. CONCLUSIONS: Frey syndrome in childhood is a rare but benign condition with mild symptoms and a favorable outcome in most cases. Unilateral forms are mostly associated with instrumented delivery. Pediatricians should be familiar with this disorder in order to avoid misdiagnosis, mainly as food allergy, and unnecessary referrals and tests.