EPIDEMIOLOGÍA DE ANAFILAXIA EN UN SISTEMA DE SALUD PREPAGO DE LA CIUDAD DE BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / Epidemiology of anaphylaxis in a medical care program in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fundamentos. Anafilaxia es una reacción alérgica seria y que puede causar la muerte. Existen pocos datos sobre la incidencia y las características de anafilaxia en Argentina. Objetivos. Estimar la incidencia de anafilaxia en un sistema de salud prepago de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Describir el conocimiento de los pacientes con diagnóstico de anafilaxia sobre medidas de prevención y tratamiento. Marco de referencia. Hospital Italiano de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Diseño. Cohorte retrospectiva Población. Padrón del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires con diagnóstico de anafilaxia desde enero de 2006 a abril de 2014. Método. Se revisaron las historias clínicas electrónicas de 211 pacientes. La evaluación comprendió tanto el ámbito ambulatorio como internación y central de emergencias. Se realizó una encuesta telefónica para conocer el comportamiento y conocimiento de los pacientes que presentaron un episodio de anafilaxia. Se utilizó el software estadístico SPSS 19.0. Resultados. La densidad de incidencia calculada por cada 100.000 personasaño fue de 9,03 (IC95%: 7,53-10,84) para todas las causas de anafilaxia. Las causas más comunes reportadas fueron medicamentos 49,5% y alimentos 19,79%. El 63,4% no recibió prescripción de adrenalina autoinyectable, sólo el 30,9% tienen un plan de acción ante un nuevo evento. Conclusión. La anafilaxia es un problema de salud importante y común. Este estudio demuestra posibles deficiencias en la atención de los episodios de anafilaxia, no sólo en el tratamiento de episodios pasados, sino también por la falta de preparación adecuada para futuros episodios. (AU)

Background. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can cause death. There are few data of the incidence and characteristics of anaphylaxis in the population of Argentina. Objectives. estimate the incidence of anaphylaxis in medical care program of Buenos Aires city. Describe the knowledge of patients with diagnosis of anaphylaxis about prevention and treatment. Setting. Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Design. Retrospective cohort. Population. Census of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis in electronic health records from January 2006 to April 2014. Method. Electronic medical records of 211 patients were reviewed, the evaluation included both inpatient and outpatient setting and emergency center. A telephone survey was conducted to understand the behavior and knowledge of the patients who had an episode of anaphylaxis. SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used. Results. The density of incidence calculated per 100,000 person-years was 9.03 (95% CI: 7.53-10.84) for all causes of anaphylaxis. The most commonly reported causes were drugs 49.5% and food 19.79%. The 63.4% of patients had never received the prescription of self-injectable epinephrine; only 30.9% have a plan of action before a new event. Conclusion. Anaphylaxis is an important and common health problem. This study demonstrates the potential gaps in care episodes of anaphylaxis, not only in the treatment of past episodes, also by the lack of adequate preparation for future episodes(AU)

Hypersensitivity reactions to the Sabin vaccine in children with cow's milk allergy.

BACKGROUND: The Sabin vaccine is used world-wide, and most children with food allergies receive it without incident. However, in the 2009 vaccination campaign conducted in Argentina, four children experienced immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions following vaccination. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to review the medical history of the affected children, study their allergic condition after the episodes and analyse the presence of allergenic vaccine components. METHODS: Patients were selected based on their immediate allergic reactions following vaccination. They were assessed for allergies to cow's milk and hen's egg. The presence of cow's milk proteins in the vaccine was tested by various immunoassays involving cow's milk- or α-lactalbumin-specific polyclonal rabbit antiserum and patient sera. RESULTS: All of the patients had a history of milk allergy, and no history or current evidence of egg hypersensitivity was found. Levels of cow's milk- and Sabin vaccine-specific IgE were increased, and the result of a skin prick test with cow's milk proteins or the Sabin vaccine was positive in each patient. In addition, an ELISA using specific rabbit antiserum detected α-lactalbumin in the Sabin vaccine. When α-lactalbumin was employed as a soluble inhibitor in a competitive ELISA, binding to vaccine-coated plates by cow's milk- or α-lactalbumin-specific rabbit antiserum or by patient serum containing IgE was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that these patients were allergic to cow's milk, and had circulating and mast cell-bound IgE antibodies specific to cow's milk proteins. We found that the Sabin vaccine contained α-lactalbumin, which may have been responsible for the reactions elicited following vaccination with the Sabin and dual viral vaccines in combination.

Prevalence and diversity of allergic rhinitis in regions of the world beyond Europe and North America.

BACKGROUND: There is comparatively little information in the public domain on the diversity in prevalence and triggers/factors associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR/C) in countries beyond western-Europe and North America. OBJECTIVE: To review the prevalence and the sensitizing agents/triggers and factors associated with AR/C in several countries in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Australia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Turkey. METHODS: Articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals were assessed and selected for further review, following an extensive literature search using the Medline database. RESULTS: This review demonstrated that prevalence of AR and AR/C in these regions has predominantly been investigated in children; with studies indicating wide inter- and intra-regional variations ranging from 2.9% AR and 3.8% AR/C in 10-18-years-old children from one region in Turkey to 54.1% AR and 39.2% AR/C in 13-14-years-old children in one region in Nigeria. Moreover, the prevalence of AR and AR/C has increased markedly over the last decade particularly in some of the more affluent African countries, China-Taiwan and several Middle East countries, likely as a consequence of improved living standards leading to increased exposure to multiple traditional and non-traditional sensitizing agents and risk factors similar to those noted in western-Europe and North America. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest that the greater diversity in prevalence of AR or AR/C in populations in these regions is in contrast to the lower diversity of AR or AR/C in the 'western populations (USA and Europe), which tend to be more uniform. This review provides a comprehensive database of the important allergens and triggers which are likely to influence the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in these diverse regions, where the prevalence of allergic rhinitis is increasing and its adverse impact on the quality of life of affected individuals is increasingly recognised.

Alergia al huevo en Pediatría. Documento del Comité de Pediatría de la Asociación Argentina de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica / Egg allergy in pediatrics. Pediatric Committee document of the Argentina Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

El huevo de gallina es una fuente de proteínas de alto valor biológico de bajo costo y de vitaminas del complejo B, importantes para la alimentación del niño. Culturalmente es uno de los alimentos básicos de nuestra dieta y, debido a esto, la alergia a sus proteínas es una de las más frecuentes en la infancia y tiene su mayor impacto en niños en edad preescolar. Estos niños representan una población vulnerable debido a que se encuentran en una etapa importante de su crecimiento y desarrollo, y el tratamiento de esta patología genera la adopción de dietas restrictivas que pueden impactar en forma negativa en su salud y calidad de vida. Este impacto está dado en parte por la ubicuidad de sus proteínas, que limita ampliamente la dieta y genera riesgos de reacciones alérgicas que se incrementan a medida que el niño crece y alcanza una mayor independencia. Teniendo en cuenta la importancia de esta patología, el Comité de Pediatría realizó una revisión actualizada con el fin de proveer herramientas útiles para el manejo adecuado de la misma. (AU)

Eggs are a source of low cost high biological value protein and complex B vitamins important for the child's nutrition. Culturally it is one of the staples of our diet and because of this, egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in childhood and has its greatest impact on preschool children. These children represent a vulnerable population because they are at an important stage in their growth and development and the treatment of this condition generates the adoption of restrictive diets that may impact negatively on their health and quality of life. This impact is given in part by the ubiquity of their proteins that largely restrict the diet and generates risks of allergic reactions that increase as the child grows and earns greater independence. Given the importance of this issue the Pediatrics Committee conducted an updated review to provide useful tools to manage this condition.(AU)

Estudio multicéntrico de evaluación del conocimiento de los pediatras acerca de reacciones alérgicas a vacunas para enfermedades infecciosas / A multicenter study assessing pediatrician's knowledge about allergic reactions to infectious disease vaccines

Resumen. Las reacciones alérgicas a las vacunas contra agentes infecciosos han generado preocupación entre los pediatras. Sin embargo, se desconoce el grado de información que tienen estos especialistas de nuestro país sobre este tema. Objetivo. Contar con datos estadísticos acerca de este problema. Población. Trescientos veinte pediatras encuestados. Método. Estudio multicéntrico descriptivo prospectivo de corte transversal realizado con encuestas estandarizadas Resultados. El 12,5% de los encuestados reconoció la presencia de síntomas de aparición rápida como reacción de hipersensibilidad inmediata. (61,6%) consideró a estas reacciones como infrecuentes. El 72,6% reconoció a la neomicina como causa de alergia, el 51,6 % al timerosal, el 73% a los conservantes, un 30,4% a la gelatina y la mitad de los encuestados al componente activo. El 62,3% reconoció a la proteína del huevo como componente de la vacuna MMR. Ante antecedentes de alergia al huevo, el 35% de los médicos contestó que contraindica siempre las vacunas que contienen proteína del huevo, el 14% no las contraindica nunca y el 9% no sabe. Los médicos de menos de 5 años de recibidos reconocieron con mayor frecuencia la presencia de una reacción alérgica a vacunas (p = 0,004). Los médicos de más de 10 años de recibidos solicitan más frecuentemente interconsulta con el especialista ante casos de vacunación de pacientes con alergia a la proteína del huevo (p = 0,01). Conclusiones. Existe un grado importante de desconocimiento acerca de las reacciones alérgicas a vacunas, los componentes de las vacunas involucrados en dichas reacciones y las conductas a tomar frente a pacientes con alergia al huevo.(AU)

Background: Allergic reactions to infectious disease vaccines have generated concern among pediatricians. It is unknown the level of pediatrician's knowledge about this issue. The aim of this study is to obtain statistical data about this issue in our country. Population: 320 pediatricians. Methods: A transversal prospective descriptive multicenter study by means of a survey. Results: 12.5% of participants were capable to identify symptoms of immediate hypersensitivity reactions and 61.6% considered that these reactions are not frequent. The pediatricians pointed out as the most commonly allergen components the following ones: Neomicine (72.6%), thymerosal (51.6 %), preservatives (73%), gelatin (30.4%) and active component (nearly 50%). 62.3% knew that eggs proteins are part of MMR vaccine. In the case of patient with history of egg allergy, 35% answered that they always contraindicate vaccination with egg protein vaccines while14% do not contraindicate and 9% do not know what to do. Physicians less than 5 years of graduation recognized more frequently the presence of allergic reactions (p: 0.004). Physicians with 10 or more years of graduation asked for specialist opinion more frequently in the case of patients with egg allergy (p: 0.01). Conclusions: It was found an important lack of information about allergic vaccine reactions, the involved vaccine constituents and the correct management of situations related to egg allergy.(AU)

Oral montelukast versus inhaled beclomethasone in 6- to 11-year-old children with asthma: results of an open-label extension study evaluating long-term safety, satisfaction, and adherence with therapy.

This 6-month, open-label extension study of a previously described base study compared oral montelukast with inhaled beclomethasone in terms of safety, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measurements, parent and patient satisfaction with treatment, asthma-related medical resource utilization, school absenteeism, and parental work loss in children with asthma. A total of 124 of 266 asthmatic children, 6 to 11 years of age, who enrolled in the base study entered a 6-month open-label extension study (74 boys, 50 girls) and were re-randomized (2:1 ratio) to receive once-daily oral montelukast (n = 83) or inhaled beclomethasone 100 mcg three times daily (n = 41). Children were evaluated in the clinic prior to re-randomization (Month 0) and at regular visits at 1, 3, and 6 months. Children and their parents showed a significantly higher overall satisfaction for montelukast at 6 months than for inhaled beclomethasone (p = 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). According to parents, montelukast was more convenient (p < 0.001), less difficult to use (p = 0.005), and was used as instructed more of the time (p = 0.006) compared with beclomethasone. Oral corticosteroid use was similar in the montelukast (13% of patients) and beclomethasone (17%) treatment groups. The montelukast treatment group was more adherent with their regimen than the inhaled beclomethasone treatment group; almost twice as many children on montelukast compared with inhaled beclomethasone were highly compliant (82% versus 45%). The two study groups were similar with respect to overall safety, change in FEV1, asthma-related medical resource utilization, school absenteeism, and parental work loss. Montelukast represents a safe and effective asthma treatment regimen to which children with asthma are more likely to adhere.