Adverse events associated with rush hymenoptera venom immunotherapy.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and nature of adverse events associated with the induction of rush Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy.

Design: Retrospective descriptive case study.

Setting: The asthma and allergy unit at a major metropolitan teaching hospital, between 1 January 1989 and 30 June 1999.

Allergy in the airway.

Background: Airway disease is responsible for significant morbidity worldwide and the role of allergies in the cause and persistence of airway symptoms is becoming increasingly appreciated.

Objective: The exposure of the airway to allergens depends on the size of inhaled particles. Common allergens encountered in Australia include grass pollens, house dust mites and animal danders and sensitivity to each leads to a different clinical pattern of disease.

Stinging insect allergies. Assessing and managing.

Background: Mortality secondary to insect sting anaphylaxis, though uncommon in this country, is a genuine risk to patients with venom hypersensitivity. A number of non specific and specific preventive measures are available to minimise this risk. They include proper patient counselling regarding sting avoidance and the use of self injectable adrenaline, as well as venom specific immunotherapy.