Insect sting allergy

Allergic reactions to insect stings are problems in both urban and rural areas of Thailand. Symptoms of insect sting allergy can be local or systemic, with both acute and delayed onset. The causative insects are mainly bees, wasps, and ants. Patients’ symptoms, caused by the insect’s venom, differ between each insect. Insect venoms, including protein allergens can initiate allergic symptoms or cause direct cell injury. The diagnosis of insect sting allergy relies on history of insect sting exposure, physical examination for local or systemic reactions, and investigation of the specific IgE of the insect allergen. Treatments of insect sting allergy can be divided into immediate and preventive treatment by venom immunotherapy, which is the treatment for reducing severity of allergic reactions and risk of fatal reactions from insect stings, and education about avoidance of exposure

Effects of an Asthma Education Camp Program on Quality of Life and Asthma Control among Thai Children with Asthma: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Caregiver knowledge and management ability can improve asthma control and quality of life (QoL) among children with asthma. A quasi-experimental study was proposed to assess the effect of a 1 day educational camp program on the QoL of children with asthma and on their caregivers’ asthma knowledge and management. Children with asthma and their caregivers were invited to attend a camp. The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), Childhood Asthma Control Test score, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were assessed in children at the first, 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year visits. The caregiver’s knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) survey was assessed at each visit. A total of 212 patients were enrolled (mean age: 8.56 ± 1.63 years) but only 72 patients attended the camp. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, asthma severity, or asthma risk factors between camp attendees and non-attendees. The KAP of caregivers who attended the camp was significantly higher than non-attendees at the 3 month and 6 month visits (16.86 ± 2.3 vs. 15.95 ± 2.78 (p = 0.009); 17.25 ± 2.22 vs. 16.7 ± 2.68 (p = 0.04)). QoL did not significantly differ between patient attendees vs. non-attendees. PAQLQ mean score correlated with asthma control, indicating that patients with well-controlled asthma had better QoL than those with unstable asthma control (p < 0.001). An asthma education camp can help increase self-management knowledge, even though its effect may be short-term. Integrating asthma education into routine care could enhance asthma management in children