Different age groups present different clinics in anaphylaxis with children: one size does not fit all children

This study aimed to determine the clinical features and age-specific patterns of childhood anaphylaxis in a single referral center in Turkey.METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of anaphylaxis in children aged between 0 and 18 years of age, attending an allergy department in a children's hospital.RESULTS: A total of 95 children diagnosed with anaphylaxis were analyzed. Among all, 35.8% of the first anaphylaxis episodes occurred ininfancy and 57.9% in preschool age. Foods were the most common culprits (57.9%) and followed by drugs (15.8%). Patients with foodinduced anaphylaxis were younger in age (p < 0.001). Food-related anaphylaxis was most common with cow's milk (36.4%) and followed by tree nuts (20%). Cow's milk played a significant role as a trigger in infancy, and tree nuts as a trigger in preschoolers and school-age children. Mucocutaneous manifestations were almost universally present (94.7%), followed by respiratory compromise (56.8%), with gastrointestinal (55.8%), cardiovascular (9.5%), and neurologic (4.2%) symptoms being less common. Respiratory and cardiovascular system-related symptoms were found more frequently in school-age children (p = 0.02 and p = 0.014, respectively). The severity of anaphylaxis was higher in school-age children (p = 0.015).DISCUSSION: Findings reveal that children diagnosed with anaphylaxis differ in terms of etiological and clinical findings according to age groups. This difference shows the dynamically changing clinic of anaph...
Source: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences - Category: General Medicine Authors: Source Type: research