Introduction There is still lack of knowledge of drug allergy in children. Proper knowledge and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions is important to physicians. Aim To evaluate the approach of primary care doctors regarding drug allergy in children. Material and methods A total of 195 primary care doctors were questioned in various parts of Lithuania from 2015 to 2016. An original questionnaire was used. The incidence of a suspected drug allergy, culprit drugs, the clinical pattern and management of the suspected drug hypersensitivity were analysed. Results The majority of primary care doctors (74.4%) reported a suspected drug allergy. The main suspected drugs were antibiotics (95.2%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (32.4%). Skin symptoms (skin rash (100%) and itching (82.1%)) were the main symptoms of the suspected drug allergy. The vast majority of doctors (93.8%) withdrew the use of a suspected drug and 68.3% of respondents prescribed an alternative drug. The fact that skin tests, blood tests and provocation tests could be used in a drug allergy workup were indicated by 43.6% of doctors. Most doctors (69.2%) knew about the opportunity to test children for drug allergy in Lithuania and 41.4% of doctors referred patients for the further drug allergy workup. Conclusions The majority of primary care doctors reported a suspected drug allergy in children. The most common suspected drugs were antibiotics and skin symptoms were the main symptoms. Most doctors knew about the possibility to test for the drug allergy but only less than half of them referred patients for the drug allergy workup.
Background. This study assessed the utility of a prick-by-prick test with pasteurised cow’s milk in predicting a pasteurised cow’s milk allergy (CMA) diagnosis. Methods. This was a retrospective study of 86 paediatric patients who had undergone open pasteurised cow’s milk oral food challenges (OFCs). We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a prick-by-prick test with pasteurised cow’s milk in predicting a positive OFC result. We calculated the threshold values representing high test specificity and predictive probability in children aged ≤24 and >24 months. Results. A prick-by-prick test with pasteurised cow’s milk was a good classifier of a positive cow’s milk OFC outcome. The mean prick − by − prick test wheal diameter ≥ 3 mm yielded 100% sensitivity in both groups of children. Thresholds representing high test specificity and 95% predicted probability were 7 and 11 mm in children ≤ 24 months and 11 and 17 mm in children > 24 months of age, respectively. Conclusion. A prick-by-prick test with pasteurised cow’s milk is valuable in paediatric practice when diagnostic thresholds are implemented.
Peculiarities of drug allergy in children
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.