Prick Skin Test Results in Children Less Than Three Years-Old

Objective: Allergic diseases can be identified as asthma, atopic dermatitis and rhinitis in early childhood. Skin prick test is not used routinely for determination of allergic disease in early life. In this study, we evaluated prick skin test results children younger than three years-old. Patients and Methods: One hundred and three children aged less than three years that were on follow up at Çukurova University, Pediatric Allergy-Immunology Division were included in this study. There were 55 boys and 48 girls with a mean age of 18.48 ± 8.62 months. Asthma was identified in 69 cases (67%), atopic dermatitis in 32 (31%) and rhinitis in 12 cases (11%). Onset age and duration of the disease, history of infection at the beginning of the disease, parental smoking, duration of breast feeding, heating system were evaluated. Serum total IgE levels, phadiatop (Pharmacia, CAP system, Sweden) and skin prick test (Allergopharma, Germany) were investigsted. Results: Fifty three (51%) patients had positive skin test at least to one allergen. Mites (D. Pteronyssinus or D. farinea) were found to be major allergen (27%). Foods, pollens and mold mixture were determined as sensitising agent in 19 (18%), 18 (17%) and 11 (10%) cases respectively. Foods were major allergen in infants whose disease had started before 12 months. Inhalant allergens were seen more commonly in children that age of onset and duration of disease were more than 12 months. Serum Ig E level was found to be high in 36 cases who had positive prick test. Phadiatop was positive in 27 infants and 7 of these cases had negative skin test. Conclusion: We found that allergen hypersensitivity was more common in infants with asthma and other allergic diseases. Prick skin test can be used for determination of different allergens and infantile asthma may be prevented by early controlling exposure to allergens

Kistik fibrozis-dişi bronşektazili çocuklarin klinik ve radyolojik özellikleri

İnal A, Karakoç GB, Yilmaz M, Altintaş DU, Kendirli SG. (Department of Pediatrics, çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey). The clinical and radiologic features of children with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Çocuk Sagligi ve Hastaliklari Dergisi 2009; 52: 20-24. Bronchiectasis is still an important problem in developing countries. The aims of the present study were to document the clinical, demographical and radiologic features of children with non-cystic bronchiectasis and to evaluate the relationship between bronchiectasis distribution severity scores obtained from high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan and pulmonary function tests. Age of symptom onset, age of diagnosis, frequency of presenting symptoms, physical examination findings, pulmonary function tests, and affected lobes in HRCT were evaluated; in addition, using HRCT, each lobe was scored separately to obtain a bronchiectasis distribution severity score. The cause could not be determined in 17 patients (30.9%); immunodeficiency was detected in 11 (20%) and infections in 9 (16.4%) patients as a cause of bronchiectasis. The most common presenting symptoms were cough and sputum expectoration. The most common affected lobe was the left lower lobe, and 21 patients (38.2%) had three or more lobe involvement. The anatomic extent scores obtained from HRCT scans were significantly correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) (r= -0.58, p<0.001) and MEF 25-75 (r= -0.56, p<0.001). Early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis will increase the quality of life of patients and decrease the complications of this irreversible process

A case of latex allergy caused by hypersensitivity to spacer with mask in a 6-year-old boy with asthma [Alti yaşinda astimli erkek bir hastada araci tüp maskesine bagli gelişen lateks alerjisi]

The prevalence of latex allergy in children is increasing worldwide. Contact urticaria is a type I hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immunoglobulin E that usually manifests as localized erythema, edema, pruritus, and urticarial plaques. It can also cause systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. In this report, we describe a child with asthma who was found to have type I hypersensitivity to rubber by prick test. A six-year-old boy was admitted to our clinic with complaints of erythema, pruritus, and urticarial plaques on the edge of his mouth for the previous 10 days. Latex allergy was suspected. Skin prick test showed a positive reaction to latex. Physicians should be aware of latex allergy in atopic children, especially in those using spacer with a mask

Relationship between Pollen Counts and Weather Variables in East-Mediterranean Coast of Turkey: Does it Affect Allergic Symptoms in Pollen Allergic Children?

PubMedID: 15154617Background: Aeroallergen sampling provides information regarding the onset, duration and severity of the pollen season that clinicians use to guide allergen selection for skin testing and treatment. Objectives: This atmospheric survey reports (1) airborne pollen contributions in Adana in one-year period (2) pollen onset, duration and peak level (3) the relationship between airborne pollen and selected meteorological variables and; (4) effects on symptoms in pollen allergic children. Methods: Pollen sampling was performed with a volumetric Burkard Spore Trap. Meteorological data were measured daily from April 2001 to April 2002. Asthma symptom scores were investigated in 186 pollen allergic children that were on follow up in pediatric allergy outpatient clinics during same period. Results: Average measurements included 82.5% tree pollen, 7.7% grass pollen and 9.8% herb pollen 54 taxa were identified during one year. The most prominent tree pollens were Cupressaceae, Eucalyptus and Pinus. The most common herb was Chenopodiaceae pollen family. When airborne pollen levels were examined in relation to single meteorological conditions; daily variations in total pollen counts were not significantly correlated with any variable studied (humidity, rainfall, temperature and wind) (p > 0.05). On the other hand, statistically significant relationship between pollen concentration and symptom scores were found (p > 0.05). Positive correlations were seen between both Gramineae and Herb pollen, and humidity and rainfall from March to July. However, positive correlations were detected between tree pollen counts and temperature and humidity in May and June. Conclusion: This survey is the first volumetric airborne pollen analysis conducted in the survey area in Adana. This study suggested that the effects of weather on pollen count and symptom scores in this population could not be clearly identified with the evaluation of one-year data. However, pollen counts had effect on allergic symptoms in pollen allergic children. Examination of the complex interaction of multiple whether parameters would perhaps more fully elucidate the relationship between meteorology and aerobiology and provide the clinician with information necessary to forecast pollen prevalence. An awareness of the ever chancing, local aeroallergen patterns requires regular monitoring. Such awareness serves as a useful guide in the effective testing and treatment of atopic patients

An idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis treated with azathioprine

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is more frequently seen in childhood than in adults, but it is still a rare disease. The clinical triad include hemoptysis, diffuse parenchymal infiltrates and iron deficiency anemia. Hydroxychloroquine, azothioprine and cyclophosphamide or combination therapies have been recommended for the control of the disease. In this report, we presented a pediatric case with IPH that failed to respond corticosteroid therapy and was treated succesfully with the combination of azathioprine

Scimitar syndrome: Four cases with different clinical presentations [Farkli klinik prezentasyonlarla scimitar sendromu: Dört vaka takdimi]

The scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital cardiopulmonary anomaly that consists in part of total or partial anomalous venous drainage of the right lung to the inferior vena cava (IVC), lung hypoplasia and anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lung. We present four pediatric patients with different clinical findings

The clinical characteristics of children with Henoch Schönlein purpura [Henoch-Schönlein purpuras.i tanisi alan çocuklarin klinik özellikleri]

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiologic and clinical features of children with diagnosis of Henoch Schönlein purpura followed up in our hospital over a three-year period. Patients and Methods: The epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings, and the data about treatment and relaps of all patients with diagnosis of Henoch Schönlein purpura were collected by reviewing medical files retrospectively. Results: Seventy-seven children (46 males, 31 females) aged between 2-14 years included in the study. Purpura was the most common finding seen in all patients followed by the joint involvement which occured in 67.4 % of our patients. Gastrointestinal involvement occured in 46 patients (59.7 %) and intestinal intussusception in 2 (2.6%). Renal involvement developed in sixteen patients (21%); six of them (7.9%) had severe nephropathy. The most frequent laboratory abnormalities were high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (37.6 %), leukocytosis (30 %) and hyper .IgA (40.2 %). Relapses occurred in 12 patients (15.6 %). Conclusion: The epidemiologic and clinical features of patients with Henoch Schönlein purpura followed up in our hospital are similar to those in the literature. The absence of a life threatening reaction related with gastrointestinal or renal system supported the benign course of this disease

Ankara'Daki Çeşitli Hastanelerden Elde Edilen Acinetobacter Baumannii Izolatlari Arasindaki Klonal Ilişkinin Gösterilmesi Ve Antibiyotik Dirençlerinin Belirlenmesi

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