New C-CARE findings on anaphylaxis recurrence

New C-CARE findings on anaphylaxis recurrence
OKeefe
Dr. Andrew O’Keefe

The annual incidence of recurrent anaphylaxis in children is 29%, according to new findings from AllerGen’s Cross-Canada Anaphylaxis REgistry (C-CARE) project.

Dr. Andrew O’Keefe, an allergist from St. John’s, Newfoundland, presented the results at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2015 conference in Houston, Texas, in February.

Among 266 children presenting with anaphylaxis in two Montreal hospitals, parents of 96 children completed follow-up questionnaires asking about allergic reactions in the subsequent two-year period. The children experienced a total of 42 recurrent episodes of anaphylaxis, representing a 29% recurrence rate, which is higher than previously reported. Food was the trigger for anaphylaxis in 91% of the cases, and most reactions were moderate in severity.

Further, the study found that the children were less likely to have peanut as a trigger and epinephrine autoinjectors were underused prior to arrival in the emergency department.

“This study highlights that, once diagnosed, children with allergies and their families need to remain vigilant,” says Dr. O’Keefe. “Patients, parents, and families should work with their healthcare providers to ensure they understand the appropriate use and technique to administer their epinephrine auto-injector in case of anaphylactic reactions.”

AllerGen’s C-CARE study, led by Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at the Montreal Children’ Hospital, is the first-ever prospective study on anaphylaxis and will help researchers to assess the rate, triggers and management of anaphylaxis across Canada.