Diagnosis and management of asthma in preschoolers: A Canadian Thoracic Society and Canadian Paediatric Society position paper.

Asthma often starts before six years of age. However, there remains uncertainty as to when and how a preschool-age child with symptoms suggestive of asthma can be diagnosed with this condition. This delays treatment and contributes to both short- and long-term morbidity. Members of the Canadian Thoracic Society Asthma Clinical Assembly partnered with the Canadian Paediatric Society to develop a joint working group with the mandate to develop a position paper on the diagnosis and management of asthma in preschoolers. In the absence of lung function tests, the diagnosis of asthma should be considered in children one to five years of age with frequent (≥8 days/month) asthma-like symptoms or recurrent (≥2) exacerbations (episodes with asthma-like signs). The diagnosis requires the objective document of signs or convincing parent-reported symptoms of airflow obstruction (improvement in these signs or symptoms with asthma therapy), and no clinical suspicion of an alternative diagnosis. The characteristic feature of airflow obstruction is wheezing, commonly accompanied by difficulty breathing and cough. Reversibility with asthma medications is defined as direct observation of improvement with short-acting ß2-agonists (SABA) (with or without oral corticosteroids) by a trained health care practitioner during an acute exacerbation (preferred method). However, in children with no wheezing (or other signs of airflow obstruction) on presentation, reversibility may be determined by convincing parental report of a symptomatic response to a three-month therapeutic trial of a medium dose of inhaled corticosteroids with as-needed SABA (alternative method), or as-needed SABA alone (weaker alternative method). The authors provide key messages regarding in whom to consider the diagnosis, terms to be abandoned, when to refer to an asthma specialist and the initial management strategy. Finally, dissemination plans and priority areas for research are identified.

L'asthme fait souvent son apparition avant l'âge de six ans. Cependant, il subsiste des incertitudes relativement à quand et comment un enfant d'âge préscolaire ayant des symptômes de type asthmatique peut être diagnostiqué avec cette condition. Ceci retarde le traitement et contribue à la morbidité à court et à long terme. L'Assemblée clinique sur l'asthme de la Société canadienne de thoracologie s'est associée à la Société canadienne de pédiatrie pour créer un groupe de travail conjoint afin de préparer un document de principes sur le diagnostic et la prise en charge de l'asthme chez les enfants d'âge préscolaire. En l'absence de mesures de la fonction pulmonaire, le diagnostic d'asthme devrait être envisagé chez les enfants de un à cinq ans ayant des symptômes de type asthmatique fréquents (≥8 jours/mois) ou des exacerbations récurrentes (≥2) (épisodes accompagnés de signes compatibles). Le diagnostic nécessite une documentation objective des signes cliniques ou un compte rendu parental convaincant de symptômes d'obstruction des voies respiratoires et de réversibilité de l' obstruction (amélioration suite à un traitement pour l'asthme), ainsi que l'absence de suspicion clinique de tout autre diagnostic. La respiration sifflante, souvent accompagnée de difficultés respiratoires et de toux, est le signe cardinal de l'obstruction des voies respiratoires. La réversibilité à la suite de la prise de médicaments pour l'asthme se définie par l'observation directe par un professionnel de la santé compétent, d'une amélioration après l'administration de ß2-agonistes à courte durée d'action (BACA) (accompagnés ou non de corticostéroïdes par voie orale) pendant une exacerbation aigue (méthode diagnostique privilégiée). Cependant, chez les enfants qui n'ont pas à l'examen une respiration sifflante (ni d'autres signes d'obstruction des voies respiratoires), la réversibilité peut être déterminée par un compte rendu parental convaincant d'une réponse symptomatique à un essai thérapeutique de trois mois de corticostéroïdes inhalés, à dose moyenne, avec un BACA au besoin (méthode diagnostique alternative), ou avec seulement un BACA au besoin (méthode diagnostique alternative moins certaine) est recommandé. Les auteurs présentent des messages clés quant aux enfants chez lesquels on doit envisager le diagnostic, quant aux termes désuets à abandonner, quant aux situations pour lesquelles on doit orienter l'enfant vers un spécialiste de l'asthme et quant à la stratégie de prise en charge initiale. Enfin, ils décrivent la stratégie de diffusion de ces messages et identifient les domaines de recherche prioritaires.

Removal of peanut allergen Ara h 1 from common hospital surfaces, toys and books using standard cleaning methods.

BACKGROUND: In children, a diagnosis of peanut allergy causes concern about accidental exposure because even small amounts of peanut protein could trigger an allergic reaction. Contamination of toys, books or other items by peanut butter in areas where individuals have eaten may occur in hospital waiting rooms and cafeterias. It is not known if hospital cleaning wipes are effective in removing peanut allergen. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether cleaning peanut contaminated items with common household and hospital cleaning wipes would remove peanut allergen. METHODS: 5 mL of peanut butter was evenly smeared on a 12 inch by 12 inch (30.5 by 30.5 cm) square on a nonporous (laminated plastic) table surface, a plastic doll, and a textured plastic ball, and 2.5 mL was applied to smooth and textured book covers. Samples for measurement of Ara h 1 were collected prior to the application of the peanut butter (baseline), and after cleaning with a common household wipe and two commercial hospital wipes. A monoclonal-based ELISA for arachis hypogaea allergen 1 (Ara h 1), range of detection 1.95-2000 ng/mL, was used to assess peanut allergen on each item. The samples were diluted 1:50 for testing. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no detectable Ara h 1 allergen on any item at baseline. Detectable Ara h 1 was detected on all products after applying peanut butter (range 1.2-19.0 micrograms/mL). After cleaning with any product, no Ara h 1 was detected on any item. CONCLUSIONS: Table surfaces, book covers and plastic toys can be cleaned to remove peanut allergen Ara h 1 using common household and hospital cleaning wipes. Regular cleaning of these products or cleaning prior to their use should be promoted to reduce the risk of accidental peanut exposure, especially in areas where they have been used by many children.

Dietary exposures and allergy prevention in high-risk infants: a joint position statement of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Allergic conditions in children are a prevalent health concern in Canada. The burden of disease and the societal costs of proper diagnosis and management are considerable, making the primary prevention of allergic conditions a desirable health care objective. This position statement reviews current evidence on dietary exposures and allergy prevention in infants at high risk of developing allergic conditions. It revisits previous dietary recommendations for pregnancy, breastfeeding and formula-feeding, and provides an approach for introducing solid foods to high-risk infants. While there is no evidence that delaying the introduction of any specific food beyond six months of age helps to prevent allergy, the protective effect of early introduction of potentially allergenic foods (at four to six months) remains under investigation. Recent research appears to suggest that regularly ingesting a new, potentially allergenic food may be as important as when that food is first introduced. This article has already been published (Paediatr Child Health. 2013 Dec;18(10):545-54), and is being re-published with permission from the original publisher, the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Persistence of peanut allergen on a table surface.

BACKGROUND: A diagnosis of peanut allergy has a major impact on an individual's quality of life. Exposure to even small amounts of peanut can trigger serious reactions. Common cleaning agents can easily remove peanut allergen from surfaces such as table tops. Parents of children with peanut allergy frequently ask if peanut allergen can persist on surfaces if they have not been cleaned. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the persistence of peanut allergen on a typical table surface over time. METHODS: Five mL of peanut butter was evenly smeared on a 12 inch by 12 inch (30.5 by 30.5 cm) square on a nonporous (laminated plastic) table surface. Five squares were prepared in the same manner. The table was kept in a regular hospital office at room temperature and ambient lighting. No cleaning occurred for 110 days. Samples were taken at regular intervals from different areas each time. A monoclonal-based ELISA for arachis hypogaea allergen 1 (Ara h 1), range of detection 1.95-2000 ng/mL, was used to assess peanut allergen on the table surface. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no detectable Ara h 1 allergen. Immediately post application and for 110 days of collecting, detectable Ara h 1 was found each time a sample was taken. There was no obvious allergen degradation over time. Active cleaning of the contaminated surface with a commercial cleaning wipe resulted in no detectable Ara h 1 allergen. CONCLUSIONS: Peanut allergen is very robust. Detectable Ara h 1 was present on the table surface for 110 days. Active cleaning of peanut contaminated surfaces easily removed peanut residue and allergen. Regular cleaning of surfaces before and after eating should be reinforced as a safety measure for all individuals with peanut allergy.