Knowledge of vaccination of allergic children among Italian primary care pediatricians, hospital pediatricians and pediatric residents

Abstract

a b s t r a c tA cross-sectional survey of Italian pediatricians and pediatric residents was carried out between 15 September and 18 October 2008 in order to evaluate their knowledge concerning the administration of vaccines to children with suspected or proved allergies. Of the 750 physicians who accepted to participate (620 pediatricians and 130 residents), 630 (84.0%; 407 females; mean age 43.5 ± 11.2 years) returned completed questionnaires: 268 primary care pediatricians (42.5%), 244 hospital pediatricians (38.8%), and 118 pediatric residents (18.7%). Knowledge concerning the vaccination of children with suspected or proved allergies was far from optimal, with the poorest knowledge being shown by the pediatric residents and no difference between the primary care and hospital pediatricians. Since pediatricians are the main parents' advisors regarding vaccinations, these results indicate an urgent need for educational programmes (especially for residents) and evidence-based guidelines concerning vaccinations in children with suspected or proved allergies.

Vaccines and atopic/allergic children: A survey among private paediatricians

“…Most French paediatricians, despite a pro‐vaccine attitude, were not aware of this. The results of our survey were similar to those of an Italian study interviewing 268 primary care paediatricians on the vaccination of egg‐allergic children . Overall, paediatricians are not aware that the vaccination of egg‐allergic children does not require referral to an allergist, with only two exceptions: vaccinations against Japanese encephalitis (except for the new formulation) and yellow fever.…”

“…Vaccine components suspected by paediatricians to induce anaphylaxis were clearly unfamiliar. According to the literature, the main culprits are tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, gelatin (stabilizer) for MMR, chickenpox and Japanese encephalitis vaccines, pneumococcal antigens and latex present in the vaccine preparation equipment . Formaldehyde, pertussis antigens, and casein found in the DTaP vaccine; some antibiotics (neomycin, gentamicin, polymyxin B, streptomycin) present in MMR, DTaP, and influenza; and Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the hepatitis B and human papillomavirus vaccines are infrequent .…”