Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2016 Nov;8(6):535-540. 10.4168/aair.2016.8.6.535.

A Multicenter Retrospective Case Study of Anaphylaxis Triggers by Age in Korean Children

• Lee SY
• Ahn K
• Kim J
• Jang GC
• Min TK
• Yang HJ
• Pyun BY
• Kwon JW
• Sohn MH
• Kim KW
• Kim KE
• Yu J
• Hong SJ
• Kwon JH
• Kim SW
• Song TW
• Kim WK
• Kim HY
• Jeon YH
• Lee YJ
• Lee HR
• Kim HY
• Ahn Y
• Yum HY
• Suh DI
• Kim HH
• Kim JT
• Kim JH
• Park YM
• Lee S
• Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Diseases Food Allergy and Atopic Dermatitis Study Group

• KMID: 2349994
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2016.8.6.535

Abstract

PURPOSE
Although anaphylaxis is recognized as an important, life-threatening condition, data are limited regarding its triggers in different age groups. We aimed to identify anaphylaxis triggers by age in Korean children.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of medical records for children diagnosed with anaphylaxis between 2009 and 2013 in 23 secondary or tertiary hospitals in South Korea.
RESULTS
A total of 991 cases (mean age=5.89±5.24) were reported, with 63.9% involving patients younger than 6 years of age and 66% involving male children. Food was the most common anaphylaxis trigger (74.7%), followed by drugs and radiocontrast media (10.7%), idiopathic factors (9.2%), and exercise (3.6%). The most common food allergen was milk (28.4%), followed by egg white (13.6%), walnut (8.0%), wheat (7.2%), buckwheat (6.5%), and peanut (6.2%). Milk and seafood were the most common anaphylaxis triggers in young and older children, respectively. Drug-triggered anaphylaxis was observed more frequently with increasing age, with antibiotics (34.9%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (17.9%) being the most common causes.
CONCLUSIONS
The most common anaphylaxis trigger in Korean children was food. Data on these triggers show that their relative frequency may vary by age.

Keyword

Anaphylaxis; children; epidemiology

MeSH Terms

Anaphylaxis*
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Arachis
Child*
Contrast Media
Egg White
Epidemiology
Fagopyrum
Humans
Juglans
Korea
Male
Medical Records
Milk
Retrospective Studies*
Seafood
Tertiary Care Centers
Triticum
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Contrast Media

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Anaphylaxis triggers by age.

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  Fig. 2 Food triggers of anaphylaxis by age.

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  Fig. 3 Drug triggers of anaphylaxis by age. RCM, radiocontrast media; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

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