Asthma Impact on Children with Food Induced Anaphylaxis

RATIONALE: Patients who have both food allergies and asthma are at increased risk for anaphylactic reactions and life-threatening asthmatic reaction. The aim of this study is to determine the asthma impact of on characteristics of children with food induced anaphylaxis adrenaline autoinjectors were prescribed. 

METHODS: 90 patients (28female, 62male, range 2-11 year-old) with food allergy adrenaline autoinjector were prescribed between April and October 2013 were recruited. We excluded cases treated by oral immunotherapy. We evaluated causal food, symptom of recent anaphylactic reaction, serum mite-specific IgE, adrenaline treatment for anaphylaxis. Their factors of asthmatic group (n=53, asthma onset 2.7 years, 23 treated with inhaled corticosteroid) were compared with those of Non-asthmatic group (n=37).

RESULTS: Number of adrenaline treatment for anaphylactic reaction in asthmatic group was higher than those of Non-asthmatic group significantly (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in mite-specific IgE, symptom of anaphylaxis between asthmatic group and Non-asthmatic group.   Forty three (81%) of anaphylactic reactions in asthmatic group induced by milk, wheat and egg were higher than 19(51%) in Non-asthmatic patients (p<0.01). In contrast, peanuts and nuts induced anaphylactic reactions in Non-asthmatic group more frequently than those of asthmatic group (30% vs.9%).

CONCLUSION: In asthmatic children, anaphylactic reactions occurred frequently by accidental ingestion of daily foods, for example, milk, wheat and egg. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness may induce anaphylactic reaction easily by small amount of causal food.