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Hypersensitivity reactions to multiple biologicals in a pediatric patient with severe persistent asthma
Aneesh Angirekula1, Victor A Estrada2, Malvika Sagar3
1Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott and White, Temple, Texas.
Insights
Severe pediatric asthma cases may need biologics, but some children can experience severe hypersensitivity reactions, even anaphylaxis, to these advanced treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition in children, significantly affecting their quality of life.
- While inhaled corticosteroids manage most cases, severe asthma necessitates advanced treatments like oral corticosteroids, biologics, or allergen immunotherapy.
Observation:
- Biologic therapies offer a valuable treatment option for severe persistent asthma.
- These advanced treatments are generally well-tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse events.
Findings:
- This case report details a pediatric patient with severe persistent asthma.
- The patient experienced hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to three distinct biologic agents used in asthma management.
Implications:
- Hypersensitivity reactions to biologics, though rare, can be severe and necessitate careful patient monitoring.
- Understanding and managing these reactions is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies in severe pediatric asthma.
Abstract:
Asthma is a common chronic pediatric disease that negatively impacts the quality of patients' lives. While most cases can be effectively managed with a regimen of inhaled corticosteroids, severe cases require prolonged or frequent courses of oral corticosteroids or the addition of biologic therapies and allergen immunotherapy. Biologics are well tolerated with few side effects; however, reactions as severe as anaphylaxis have been reported. We present a pediatric patient with severe persistent asthma who developed hypersensitivity reactions to three different biologic agents.
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