Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
Allergy alerts - The incidence of parentally reported allergies in children presenting for general anesthesia
David L Sommerfield1,2, Aine Sommerfield1,3, Alina Schilling1
1Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia.
Insights
Most parent-reported pediatric allergies are not clinically significant. Over-reporting of allergies can limit treatment options, necessitating better patient education and timely verification of reported reactions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Care
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of reported allergies in pediatric patients, including food and medication sensitivities.
- Parent-reported allergies can impact surgical care and anesthetic management.
- Need to assess the actual incidence and clinical relevance of these reported allergies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and nature of parent-reported allergies in pediatric surgical patients.
- To evaluate the clinical significance of these allergies for anesthesiologists.
- To identify the need for improved allergy verification processes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data collection over 2 months at a pediatric tertiary care teaching hospital.
- Inclusion of patient demographics, history of atopy, and detailed allergy information.
- Review of allergy documentation by a clinical immunologist and an anesthetist.
Main Results:
- 15.8% of 1001 pediatric patients reported allergies, most commonly to medications and foods.
- Only 0.3% had evidence of likely IgE-mediated drug allergy; only 0.4% had allergies significantly impacting anesthesia.
- A minority of reported allergies (38.2%) were previously investigated, with limited follow-up for medication allergies.
Conclusions:
- Most parent-reported allergies in pediatric surgical patients lack specialist confirmation and clinical relevance.
- Self-reported food allergies are often verified, unlike medication allergies.
- Over-reporting of allergies necessitates improved patient/family education and timely verification to guide clinical practice.
Background And Aim:
Pediatric patients increasingly report allergies, including allergies to food and medications. We sought to determine the incidence and, nature of parent-reported allergies in children presenting for surgery and its significance for anesthetists.
Methods:
We prospectively collected data on admissions through our surgical admission unit over a 2-month period at a pediatric tertiary care teaching hospital. Data collected included patient demographics, history of atopy, with more comprehensive information collected if an allergy was reported. A clinical immunologist and an anesthetist reviewed the documentation of all patients reporting an allergy.
Results:
We reviewed 1001 pediatric patients, 158 (15.8%) patients with parent-reported allergies; to medications/drugs (n = 73), food (n = 66), environmental allergens (dust/grasses, n = 35), tapes/dressings (n = 27), latex (n = 4), and venom (eg, bee, wasp, n = 9). Forty-one patients reported antibiotic allergies, with Beta-lactam antibiotics being the most common, with the majority presenting with rash alone (57%). Ten patients reported allergies to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and eight to opioids. Twenty-four patients reported egg and/or peanut allergy. Only 3/1001 (0.3%) patients were deemed to have evidence of likely IgE-mediated drug allergy. Of the reported allergies, only 60 (38.2%) had been investigated prior, most likely to be followed up were food (53%) and environmental allergies (44.4%). Only 4/73 (5.5%) reported medication allergies had further follow-up. Just four patients (0.4% of the entire cohort) had drug sensitivities/allergies that were likely to majorly alter anesthesia practice.
Conclusion:
Only the minority of parent-reported allergies in pediatric surgical patients were specialist confirmed and likely to be clinically relevant. Self-reported food allergy is commonly specialist verified whereas reactions to medications were generally not. Over-reporting of allergies is increasingly common and limits clinician choice of medications. Better education of patients and their families and more timely verification or dismissal of parent-reported reactions is urgently needed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
01:24Data Reporting and Recording
00:55Parental Care
01:27Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment