Latex hypersensitivity among allergic Egyptian children: relation to parental/self reports.

Background: Latex allergy is one of the major health concerns and allergic reactions to latex may be serious and fatal.

Purpose: In this study, we sought to determine the frequency of latex hypersensitivity in a group of allergic Egyptian infants and children and its relation to the history provided by the patients or caregivers.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled 400 patients with physician diagnosed allergic diseases.

Wheezing in infancy.

Several population-based birth cohort studies documented that 30% of children suffer from wheezing during respiratory infections before their third birthday. Infants are prone to wheeze because of anatomic factors related to the lung and chest wall in addition to immunologic and molecular influences in comparison to older children. Viral infections lead to immunologic derangements that cause wheezing both in immunocompetent and immunodeficient infants.

Serum interleukin-18 expression in children with bronchial asthma.

Background: : Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is reported to have regulatory functions on Th1 and Th2 cytokine production and proinflammatory effects through promoting recruitment of memory Th1 cells to inflammatory sites. We sought to investigate the expression of the serum IL-18 in childhood bronchial asthma in relation to disease activity and severity.

Methods: : Serum IL-18 was measured by enzymatic immunoassay in 25 asthmatic children during exacerbation and after complete quiescence of symptoms and signs.