Anaphylaxis in Israel: experience with 92 hospitalized children

V Hoffer1, O Scheuerman, N Marcus

  • 1Department of Pediatrics B, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikvah, Israel.

Insights

Anaphylaxis in children is often triggered by foods like milk and nuts, or by medications. Improved patient education on using epinephrine auto-injectors is crucial for managing recurrent allergic reactions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Limited data exists on pediatric anaphylaxis outside North America and Europe.
  • Understanding regional variations in anaphylaxis triggers and management is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics of childhood anaphylaxis in Israel.
  • To identify common causes, clinical presentations, and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 92 pediatric anaphylaxis cases hospitalized over 12 years.
  • Data collected on demographics, triggers, co-morbidities, and treatments.

Main Results:

  • Foods (43%), medications (22%), and hymenoptera venom (11%) were primary triggers.
  • Anaphylaxis occurred mainly at home (56%); 52% had a history of atopy.
  • Epinephrine auto-injector use was low among patients with recurrent episodes, highlighting an educational gap.

Conclusions:

  • Food allergens are a significant cause of pediatric anaphylaxis in Israel.
  • Effective management requires addressing co-morbidities like atopy and improving emergency preparedness, including EpiPen utilization.

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