Effects of elimination diets and clinical findings on mothers' anxiety in infants with food allergy with non-life-threatening reactions.

Summary: Background. In food allergies (FA), the current treatment is eliminating the responsible food from the diet until tolerance develops. We aimed to determine the effects of the mother's elimination diets and clinical findings on the mothers' anxiety in infants with food allergy (FA) with non-life-threatening reactions. Methods. Our study included 100 infants with FA and 35 healthy infants as control. A data form was prepared to collect information about the infants' and their mothers' socio-demographic characteristics, clinical findings, features of the mother's elimination diet, and FA-related internet search. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was applied to all mothers. Results. The STAI (state anxiety and trait anxiety) scores of the mothers of the infants with FA were higher than the control group (p less than 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Of the infants with FA, 51% had food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP), 29% had atopic dermatitis (AD), 20% had urticaria-angioedema (U/AE). It was found that state anxiety scores were higher in mothers whose child had FPIAP, who had multiple food eliminations, who followed the allergy groups on social media, and who made the elimination diet herself (p = 0.008, p = 0.048, p less than 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. The state anxiety and trait anxiety of the mothers of the infants with FA were higher than the control group, and the state anxiety scores were higher especially in the mothers of infants with FPIAP and multiple food elimination.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on symptom severity in school children with house dust mite-sensitized allergic rhinitis.

Study objective: The lockdown imposed on children due to the COVID-19 pandemic and their inability to attend school increased their exposure to indoor allergens by causing them to spend more time indoors. In this study, the aim was to reveal the effect of the pandemic and increased exposure to indoor aeroallergens on the symptom severity of school-age children with house dust mite-sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR). Patients and methods: Patients between the ages of 6-18-years old, who were followed-up with the diagnosis of perennial AR sensitized to only mites were questioned about their sinonasal symptoms. The Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) questionnaire was performed. The clinical findings, drug usage, frequency of infections and attacks were evaluated and compared during COVID-19 lockdown and the same time frame in 2019. Results: Sixty-five patients had AR, and 33 patients (50.8%) had AR with asthma. TNSS of the patients improved during the pandemic (P < 0.001) and their medication scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001). The frequency of respiratory tract infections and asthma attacks decreased significantly (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, risk factors were evaluated for the 'group with worsening TNSS' and coal/wood burning was detected to be an independent risk factor (P = 0.006; OR = 10.09 (95% CI: 1.97-51.87)). Conclusion: Although the increased stay at home, it is surprising that nasal symptoms improved in our patients. This result suggests that whereas allergen sensitivity is responsible for the pathogenesis of AR, exposure to pollution and viral infections which are reduced by masking and social distance may also play an important role in the pathogenesis.

Introduction: Le confinement imposé aux enfants en raison de la pandémie de COVID-19, l'impossibilité pour les enfants d'aller à l'école; ont augmenté leur exposition aux allergènes intérieurs en les obligeant à passer plus de temps à l'intérieur. Dans cette étude, il visait à révéler l'effet de la période pandémique et de l'exposition accrue aux aéroallergènes intérieurs sur la sévérité des symptômes des enfants d'âge scolaire atteints de rhinite allergique (RA) sensibilisée aux acariens. Méthode: Patients âgés de 6 à 18 ans, qui ont été suivis avec le diagnostic de RA perannuelle avec seulement des acariens sensibilisés; ont été interrogés sur leurs symptômes naso-sinusiens. Le questionnaire Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) a été réalisé. Leurs résultats cliniques, l'utilisation de médicaments, la fréquence des infections et des attaques ont été évalués et comparés pendant le verrouillage de COVID-19 et la même période de 2019. Résultats: Soixante-cinq patients avaient une RA et 33 patients (50,8 %) avaient une RA avec asthme. Le TNSS des patients pendant la période pandémique s'est amélioré (p < 0,001) et leurs scores de médication ont diminué de manière significative (p < 0,001). La fréquence des infections des voies respiratoires et des crises d'asthme a diminué significativement (p < 0,001). En analyse multivariée, les facteurs de risque ont été évalués pour le « groupe d'aggravation du TNSS ¼, la combustion de charbon/bois a été détectée comme étant un facteur de risque indépendant (p = 0,006 ; OR = 10,09 (IC95 % : 1,97­51,87)). Conclusion: Malgré l'augmentation du séjour à domicile, il est surprenant que les symptômes nasaux de nos patients se soient améliorés. Ce résultat suggère que si la sensibilité aux allergènes est responsable de la pathogenèse de la RA, l'exposition à la pollution et aux infections virales qui sont réduites par le masque et la distance sociale peuvent également jouer un rôle important dans la pathogenèse.