Publications by authors named "Mara-Morelo Rocha-Felix"
Article Synopsis
- Beta-lactam allergy is a significant public health concern, especially among Brazilian children and adolescents, and this study aims to evaluate the safety of direct Oral Provocation Tests (OPT) for this group.
- A cross-sectional study involved 54 children aged 1 to 17 with mild reactions to penicillin, using amoxicillin for the testing, and employed statistical methods to analyze results.
- The findings indicated that over 90% of participants were no longer considered allergic, with only a 7.5% positivity rate for the tests, and no serious reactions were reported, suggesting that the OPT is safe but calling for further research on its duration.
Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR) in children have a significant impact on clinical practice and public health. Both under-diagnosis (due to under-reporting) and over-diagnosis (due to the overuse of the term "allergy") are potential issues. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the most recent findings of DHR in children/adolescents and gaps regarding epidemiology, antibiotic allergy, antiepileptic hypersensitivity, vaccine allergy, and severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR) in this age group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is increasing in developing countries. Different worldwide guidelines have been proposed, but their applicability for AD specialists in Latin American (LA) countries is unknown.
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the medical approach to treating AD in LA countries.
Article Synopsis
- - The integrated care pathways for atopic dermatitis (AD-ICPs) serve to connect existing treatment guidelines and expert insights into a structured plan that caters to different levels of AD severity and healthcare resources across various countries.
- - Developed by the GA LEN ADCARE network and other stakeholders in 2020-2021, the AD-ICPs detail diagnostics, treatment options, and emphasize the roles of pharmacologists and other contributors in managing AD, particularly in pediatric cases.
- - The initiative aims to enhance AD management through a multidisciplinary approach that addresses urgent needs like better access to care, specialist training, educational programs, and personalized treatments, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
Acute urticaria is a common condition that presents with wheals and/or angioedema. However, these symptoms are also frequent in anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that should be immediately diagnosed and treated. In both, mast cells play a central role in the physiopathology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- There is a lack of research on drug desensitization in children, leading to protocols being adapted from adult practices.
- The article provides a review of the mechanisms, diagnostic tools, and current management strategies for drug hypersensitivity reactions specifically in the pediatric population.
- It covers various types of hypersensitivity reactions related to chemotherapy, biologic agents, antibiotics, NSAIDs, and vaccines in children.
Objective: To evaluate the association between asthma prevalence and serum levels of vitamin D in Brazilian adolescents.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, school-based study involving adolescents between 12-17 years of age from four large Brazilian cities located at different latitudes (Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Porto Alegre). Information on asthma diagnosis, lifestyle, and sociodemographic characteristics was collected by means of self-administered questionnaires.
Betalactams are the most frequent cause of hypersensitivity reactions to drugs mediated by a specific immune mechanism. Immediate reactions occur within 1 to 6 hours after betalactam administration, and are generally IgE-mediated. They clinically translate into urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate the association between smoking and asthma, and possible associated factors in Brazilian adolescents.
Methods: A cross-sectional, national, school-based study with adolescents aged 12-17 years, participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes - ERICA). A total of 66,394 participants answered a self-administered questionnaire with questions about asthma, smoking, lifestyle and sociodemographic variables.
OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence of asthma and physician-diagnosed asthma in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS Cross-sectional, national, school-based study with adolescents from 12 to 17 years old, participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). The study stratified the sample by region and grouped according to schools and classes with representativeness to the set of cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants of the Country, macro-regions, capitals, and Federal District.
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