ABSTRACT
Background: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy characterized by gastrointestinal symptom onset within 1-4 hours from trigger food ingestion. In the literature, some authors have previously described the possibility that a patient with FPIES may develop an IgE-mediated allergy to the same trigger food, especially cow's milk (CM). Case Presentation: We reported five cases of CM-FPIES converting to IgE-mediated CM allergy presented at our tertiary pediatric Allergy Unit and performed a review of the literature, aiming to characterize the clinical features of patients who are at risk of developing such conversion. Conclusions: This phenomenon raises the question of whether IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated allergies represent a spectrum of the same disease and highlights the need for further investigation to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of this process.
Subject(s)
Enterocolitis , Immunoglobulin E , Milk Hypersensitivity , Humans , Enterocolitis/immunology , Enterocolitis/etiology , Enterocolitis/diagnosis , Milk Hypersensitivity/immunology , Milk Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Female , Infant , Male , Animals , Milk Proteins/adverse effects , Milk Proteins/immunology , Syndrome , Child, Preschool , Cattle , Milk/adverse effects , Milk/immunology , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Food Hypersensitivity/etiology , Food Hypersensitivity/diagnosisSubject(s)
Anaphylaxis , Emergency Service, Hospital , Anaphylaxis/epidemiology , Anaphylaxis/therapy , Humans , Child , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Disease Management , Patient Education as TopicABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In case of suspected hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) to drugs, a challenging area for pediatricians is detecting relevant elements in the parent-reported history, in order to reach a definite diagnosis. We analyzed the concordance between the description of the HR and the medical reports documented at the time of the event. Furthermore, we studied any correlation between clinical history variables and the prediction of true allergy. METHODS: We retrospectively collected 50 charts of children referred to our Allergy Unit, after a previous access to the Emergency Department. We compared the description of the HR at acute phase to the history told by parents. Type and timing of the HR and culprit drug were classified as "known" or "unknown." The diagnosis was confirmed or excluded at the end of the investigations. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find any significant association. RESULTS: The type of the HR was known in 74%, the timing in 28%, and the culprit drug in 98%. We showed that having had a severe HR had an increased odds of remembering the timing; being older >6 years and having had an immediate HR had an increased odds of remembering the type; time to diagnostic was lower in patients whose parents remembered the type of HR. CONCLUSION: Our paper underlines the importance of an accurate anamnesis at the time of the event. Providing the physicians with a standardized Case Report Form could be a useful tool to simplify the diagnostic work-up and minimize mistakes due to lack of memory.
Subject(s)
Drug Hypersensitivity , Hypersensitivity , Child , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Drug Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Emergency Service, Hospital , ParentsABSTRACT
The majority of viral rashes occurring during an antibiotic therapy are considered as a drug hypersensitivity reaction (DHR). Differentiating a viral rash versus a DHR is difficult or even impossible. In delayed DHRs the interplay between viruses and drugs is summarized according to the recent literature. The question is if the same reaction will again occur in case of drug re-exposure in absence of the concomitant viral infection because of persistent immune reactivity. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) models are analyzed in case of maculopapular exanthemas (MPEs) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) over a course of drug therapy. MPEs are the most common skin manifestation during a viral infection and a concomitant drug therapy. In type IVb reactions to drugs a hapten/pro-hapten mechanism and a pharmacological interaction (p-i mechanism) are described as the 2 major ways to make T cells response functional. Rarely the altered repertoire model is involved. The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) predisposition is an additional essential factor that can facilitate DHR. In MPEs rarely a DHR is confirmed by allergy testing. Severity and duration of MPEs, the presence of eosinophilia and systemic symptoms make more reliable the persistent nature of the reaction. Research on this topic is needed in order to provide the clinicians with instruments to decide when to suspect future reactions upon drug re-exposure even in the absence of a viral infection, because those patients should be investigated by a complete drug allergy work up.
ABSTRACT
Anaphylaxis is the most serious of all allergic reactions. Despite advances in the knowledge of anaphylaxis, its clinical manifestations continue to be under-recognized. Indeed, proper diagnosis of anaphylaxis is often missed, and the treatment is delayed. The underlying causes are still under investigation globally. Inflammation represents the cornerstone of pathophysiology of anaphylaxis. Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a rare clinical manifestation characterized by a chronological sequence in which food ingestion followed by physical exercise leads to anaphylaxis. Its mechanisms are yet to be fully explained. We report the case of a 14-year-old Chinese male who lost consciousness while undergoing physical activity at school. Several differential diagnoses were considered such as hypovolemic shock, septic shock, anaphylactic shock or neurological adverse event. Finally, the diagnosis of FDEIA was made. This case highlights the difficulties in diagnosing FDEIA and its management, especially when the clinical history is not complete and detailed (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adolescent , Anaphylaxis/diagnosis , Anaphylaxis/etiology , Food Hypersensitivity/complications , Food Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Exercise , Diagnosis, DifferentialABSTRACT
Background Chronic urticaria (CU), characterized by daily wheals and/or angioedema lasting more than 6 weeks, is a common skin disease. CU is classified as spontaneous or inducible. Because of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, face-to-face visits were reduced, and many centers started remote consultations to minimize hospital admissions and risk for viral diffusion. Telemedicine became a valuable tool for evaluating and monitoring patients with chronic diseases, such as CU. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine as a means for the follow-up of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we collected data related to CSU evolution and treatment by remote consultation. Moreover, we specifically investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination on CSU in relapsing or worsening of such a disease. Methods The electronic charts were reviewed for patients diagnosed with CSU, who were referred to the allergy unit of Meyer Childrens Hospital, Florence. For each patient, a review of demographic characteristics, diagnostic workup, efficacy, and tolerability of the treatment was performed. Patients with a physical agent triggering CU were excluded from the study. Disease activity was monitored using the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7). In addition, when the COVID-19 pandemic started, follow-up continued through telemedicine after an initial face-to-face visit when possible. Approximately 1 year after the diagnosis of CSU, patients were recontacted to investigate whether they had experienced a relapse or worsening of urticaria during a possible COVID-19 or immediately after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Results From January 2020 to March 2021, 84 cases of CSU were identified, with 71 (84.5%) of these being evaluated via televisit (remote consultation) (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Coronavirus Infections , Pandemics , Telemedicine , Urticaria , Follow-Up Studies , Chronic Disease , RecurrenceABSTRACT
Introduction and objective: The oral food challenge (OFC) is the gold standard to diagnose food allergy (FA); however, it is not a procedure free from the risk of having significant allergic reactions, even life-threatening. The aims of our study were to evaluate the frequency of positive OFCs performed in children with a suspected diagnosis of IgE- and non-IgEmediated (food proteininduced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES)) FA and how the failed challenges were managed. Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review was done on all children who have had OFCs in a tertiary-care pediatric allergy unit from 2017 to 2019. Results: 682 patients were enrolled and 2206 challenges were performed: 2058 (93%) for IgE-mediated FA and 148 (7%) for FPIES. There were 262 (11.8%) challenge failures. The transfer to the emergency department was required 3 times (1.1%). None of the failed challenges resulted in death or hospitalization and 13.3% challenges did not require any treatment. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that food challenges can be performed safely in a specialized setting by well-trained personnel; all food challenge reactions, even the most serious, were reversible, thanks to a prompt recognition and treatment that generally did not worsen over time (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Food Hypersensitivity/complications , Enterocolitis/diagnosis , Enterocolitis/etiology , Immunoglobulin E , Enterocolitis/immunology , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Hospitals, Pediatric , Immunologic Tests/methods , Skin Tests , Syndrome , Tertiary HealthcareABSTRACT
Food allergy immunotherapy is a promising allergen-specific approach to manage food allergy in children, although it is not exempt from adverse events, even severe. The adverse events are not predictable and furthermore cofactors can play a role in triggering them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients on food allergy immunotherapy should be provided with sugges-tions on how to proceed in the event of COVID-19 infection occurring or is suspected. These recommendations would be of support to clinical practitioners dealing with patients on food allergy immunotherapy since there is little data in the literature on the topic
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