Recognition and management of food allergy in children.

Incidence of food allergy has been increasing and is more commonly seen in children. Allergic reactions can vary, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. This article aims to explore the immunological mechanisms involved in food allergy, as well as distinguishing between immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated and non-IgE-mediated reactions.

Severity and threshold of peanut reactivity during hospital-based open oral food challenges: An international multicenter survey.

Background: Peanut allergy is classically managed by food avoidance. Immunotherapy programs are available at some academic centers for selected patients reacting to small amounts of peanut during food challenge. We aimed to determine and compare reaction thresholds and prevalence of anaphylaxis during peanut oral challenges at multiple specialist allergy centers.

Identifying and managing Hymenoptera venom allergy.

Hymenoptera venom allergy is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to the venom of insects from the Hymenoptera order and is a common cause of anaphylaxis. A diagnosis of venom allergy is made by taking an accurate medical, family and social history, alongside specific allergy testing. Systemic reactions to Hymenoptera venom occur in a small proportion of the population; these range from mild to life-threatening in severity.

Antihistamine use in children.

This review provides an overview of the use of antihistamines in children. We discuss types of histamine receptors and their mechanism of action, absorption, onset and duration of action of first-generation and second-generation H(1)-antihistamines, as well as elimination of H(1)-antihistamines which has important implications for dosing in children. The rationale for the use of H(1)-antihistamines is explored for the relief of histamine-mediated symptoms in a variety of allergic conditions including: non-anaphylactic allergic reactions, atopic eczema (AE), allergic rhinitis (AR) and conjunctivitis, chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and whether they have a role in the management of intermittent and chronic cough, anaphylaxis, food protein-induced gastrointestinal allergy and asthma prevention.

Optimising treatment of allergic rhinitis in children.

Acute and chronic symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) can disrupt school and leisure activities, significantly reducing quality of life. Symptoms often impair sleep, resulting in tiredness and poor concentration. Children with seasonal AR perform significantly worse in summer exams, relative to their mock exam results, when compared with their peers.

Diagnosing and managing food allergy in children.

The prevalence of food allergy in children in the UK is now around 5%. The number of children put on restricted diets by their parents because of presumed allergy is likely to be much higher. Accurate diagnosis of food allergy is essential in order to ensure that the correct foods are carefully avoided while safe foods are not excluded unnecessarily.