Asian Pac J Allergy
-
Asian Pac J Allergy · Jun 2008
Anaphylaxis in an emergency department: a 2-year study in a tertiary-care hospital.
The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of anaphylaxis in the emergency department of a tertiary-care hospital, describe the clinical features and the management of the patients and determine those with mild manifestations. A retrospective study was conducted from 2005 to 2006 using anaphylaxis-related ICD-10 terms. Two different sets of criteria for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis were applied, first the criteria previously accepted by emergency practice, followed by the recent criteria set forth at the 2005 international meeting. ⋯ Food allergy was the most common cause, especially prawn. After applying the recent criteria, 13 patients (20.4%) were excluded, which reduced the incidence to 42.2 per 100,000 patients per year. Long term follow up is suggested for the possible or mild cases that were re-categorized.
-
Asian Pac J Allergy · Jun 2006
Incidence of anaphylaxis in the emergency department: a 1-year study in a university hospital.
The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of anaphylaxis in an emergency department, identify rate and risk factors of recurrent anaphylaxis, and describe its clinical features and management. A retrospective study of patients who attended the emergency department at Thammasat University Hospital was conducted during 2003-2004 with anaphylactically related ICD-9 and ICD-10 terms. There were 64 patients who experienced 65 anaphylactic episodes during the 1-year period. ⋯ Patients with and without biphasic reactions did not differ significantly in terms of epinephrine and steroid usage. In conclusion, anaphylaxis is not rare. Epinephrine and steroid usage did not prevent biphasic reactions.
-
Asian Pac J Allergy · Dec 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialPlasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in pediatric ARDS during high frequency oscillatory ventilation: a predictor of mortality.
Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), an important adhesion molecule that mediates leukocyte-endothelial interaction, has been identified as a marker for the outcome of acute respiratory tract infection. We postulate that plasma ICAM-1 may be a valuable marker for both biological and clinical severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Sixteen pediatric patients (> 1 month and < 15 years of age) diagnosed with ARDS were recruited from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at King Chulalongkorn Memorial University Hospital, Bangkok. ⋯ The mean plasma sICAM-1 levels (n = 13/16) were significantly elevated among non-survival patients as compared to survival patients at all time points, which indicates that an unfavorable outcome in ARDS is related to the degree of epithelial and endothelial alveolar cell injury. The elevation of plasma slCAM-1 on day 3 provided the best predictor of mortality (likelihood ratio 11.9, p < 0.001). It was concluded that HFOV facilitated a potentially better outcome compared to conventional treatment and it was associated with less lung injuries evidenced by lower plasma sICAM-1.
-
Asian Pac J Allergy · Jun 2005
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyClinico-immunologic evaluation of allergy to Himalayan tree pollen in atopic subjects in India--a new record.
Exposure to local pollen allergens has a direct bearing on the prevalence of allergic symptoms among the inhabiting atopic population. The populations in the Himalayas and around it are exposed to a variety of pollen grains from trees growing in the region, but the pollen-population interaction has not been clinically investigated. Himalayan tree pollen from five different taxa, i.e. ⋯ It was concluded that skin prick test positivity and raised IgE antibodies specific to AN, BU, CD, MP and QI established Himalayan tree pollen as important sensitizers in the atopic populations of India. A high incidence of skin sensitivity was observed to pollen antigens of Cedrus deodara, Mallotus phillipensis and Quercus incana in patients of Chandigarh residing in the hills and foothills of the Himalayas while Alnus nitida, Betula utilis and Cedrus deodara were important sensitizers in Delhi patients. The skin sensitization pattern against these pollen was in accordance with the level of exposure to these pollen of the subjects residing in that part of the country.
-
Asian Pac J Allergy · Mar 2005
Asthmatic versus non-asthmatic spontaneous pneumomediastinum in children.
The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical spectrum and seek potential curable causes of spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) in children in order to minimize respiratory morbidity. Medical records from 1986 to 2003 were retrospectively reviewed at a tertiary pediatric facility in northern Taiwan. Sixteen cases of SPM were identified. ⋯ We conclude that in young teenagers, who suffer from cough, dyspnea, chest pain and associated discomfort of throat or neck, the diagnosis of SPM should be considered and chest radiography including posterior-anterior and lateral projections should be performed to verify the diagnosis. Because of the high prevalence of asthma related SPM, children of idiopathic SPM should undergo diagnostic pulmonary function tests after the acute episode, to establish whether the child has asthma. Targeted investigations of the underlying causes of SPM might decrease respiratory morbidity and avoid further complications.