Allergy & Immunology Flashcards
What is the most important component with atopic conditions?
Parental history of atopy
If one parent has atopic disease, what is the risk for a kid with atopic disease?
50%
If both parents have atopic disease, what is the risk for a kid with atopic disease?
70%
What are some other contributing factors to atopic conditions besides genetics?
Environmental influences/exposures (indoor pets, cigarette smoke, respiratory infections like RSV, and diet)…these can increase or decrease risk
If you get a question about maternal diet with respect to the development of atopy what is the answer?
Mom should have a regular healthy diet without any specific dietary limitations…maternal diet doesn’t play as important a role in subsequent de elopement of atopy as previously believed
Does delaying the introduction of solid foods past 4-6 months prevent the development of atopic disease?
No… Holding off on fish, eggs, or peanut butter won’t prevent allergies to these food items (current research is exploring opposite possibility)
True or False: The mortality of asthma is on the increase?
True
Asthma is more common in which gender and ethnic groups?
Boys, African American, and Hispanic children
What medication delivery is just as effective as nebulizers, even in infants?
HFAs used with spacers
What is indicates for the initial diagnosis of asthma and for ongoing management?
Routine pulmonary function testing
What can be described as a chronic nighttime cough which isn’t alleviated by OTC medications?
Asthma
A nighttime cough can be associated with what 2 things besides asthma?
Sinusitis and GERD (if these are the diagnoses they are looking for, the will be obligated to provide you with additional signs and symptoms
What does spirometry measure?
Inspiratory and expiratory flow rate
Spirometry requires expiration for more than how many seconds?
6
Does spirometry measure total lung capacity or residual volume?
No (spirometry doesn’t provide TLC or a ride home with an RV)
4 things to diagnose intermittent asthma?
- Symptoms 2 or less days a week
- Zero night time awakenings per month
- No interference with normal activity
- Requires short acting beta agonists 2 or less days a week
Treatment for intermittent asthma?
Short acting bronchodilator only as needed
What other 2 names is asthma known as?
Reactive airways disease or hyperresponsive airway disease
What is the atopic march?
Specific order in which atopic conditions present…
- Atopic dermatitis in infants
- Allergic rhinitis in children
- Asthma in children and adolescents
Classification for mild persistent asthma?
- Symptoms more than 2 days a week but not daily
- Night time symptoms or awakenings 1-2 times a month
- Minor limitation with normal activity
- Needs short acting beta agonists more than 2 days a week, but not daily
What is first and second line treatment for mild persistent asthma?
First line is a low dose inhaled steroid. Second line is a leukotriene inhibitor.
Plus a short acting bronchodilator PRN
Classification for moderate persistent asthma?
- Symptoms every day
- Night time awakenings 3-4 times a month
- Need short acting bronchodilators daily
- Some limitation of activity
Treatment for moderate persistent asthma?
Low-medium dose inhaled steroids and long-acting bronchodilator or montelukast
Classification for severe persistent asthma?
- Symptoms throughout the day
- Night time awakenings more than once a week
- Using short-acting bronchodilator several times per day
- Extremely limited activity
Treatment for severe persistent asthma?
High dose inhaled steroids and long acting bronchodilators or montelukast
Which is implicated more commonly as triggers in kids with asthma…bacterial or viral?
Viral infections..even though physicians tend to prescribe antibiotics for kids with a history of asthma and develop fever and cough
What is a typical chest XR finding for asthma?
Peribronchial cuffing (don’t confuse this or atelectasis as a sign of pneumonia)
Name side effects of beta adrenergic agonists.
Tremors, tachycardia, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, hypomagnesemia
When would you use levalbuterol over albuterol?
Only indicated in patients who have demonstrated excessive tachycardia, tremor, and/or irritability with albuterol (levalbuterol has no hard data to support its therapeutic superiority over albuterol)
When would you use inhaled mucolytics or chest physical therapy for an asthma exacerbation?
Never…there is no role for this
Which patients can experience severe asthma exacerbations?
Any…regardless of the baseline asthma severity
If you are presented with a patient who is having an acute exacerbation of asthma which is not responding to beta adrenergic agonists, what is the next step?
Systemic steroids
Which phase of asthma do steroids affect?
Steroids only inhibit the late phase reaction of asthma (not the early phase)
Which phase of asthma do leukotriene inhibitors affect?
Early phase reaction
Why is an inhaled corticosteroid the best method to control persistent asthma?
Decreases bronchial inflammation and also reduces bronchial hyperresponsiveness
How ca you lessen the risk of oral candidiasis with inhaled corticosteroids?
Mouth rinsing after inhaling a dose
A low pCO2 in the setting of acute asthma reflects what?
Tachypnea
An increasing pCO2 in acute asthma reflects what?
CO2 retention and fatigue
What are signs of hypercapnia (with fatigue in severe asthma)?
Agitation, flushing, mental status change (disorientation), headache, or tachycardia
Why might a kid with an acute asthma exacerbation not be wheezing?
In an acute exacerbation, the child may not be moving enough air to elicit a wheeze…in this case, giving an albuterol nebulizer will actually make the wheezing worse, but it is a good sign
What are triggers noted in the history to tip you off to a correct diagnosis of asthma?
Weather changes, aspirin, beta blockers, viral URI, exercise, allergies
What % of asthmatic children have positive immediate-type allergy skin tests?
80%…so any description of allergic signs and symptoms should make you think of asthma
What is the definition of exercise induced asthma?
Coughing and wheezing 5 minutes after exercising, with gradual improvement with 15 minutes of rest
What type of air is best and worst for exercise induced asthma?
Worst: Cold, dry air
Best: Warm, moist air
Should kids with asthma still exercise?
Yes, it is important to keep in mind that kids with asthma should be encouraged to remain active…EIA exacerbations may be a result of poor asthma control
What is the treatment for EIA when the asthma problems only occur with exercise?
Use of a short acting beta agonist (SABA) 30 minutes before exercise
What signs/symptoms suggest foreign body as the cause of wheezing?
Respiratory infection that isn’t clearing, wheeze that is localized and fixed, reduced breath sounds over one lung, a mediastinal shift seen on CXR, or a very sudden onset
If a foreign body in the lung isn’t removed what can result?
Recurrent pneumonia, atelectasis, or bronchiectasis
What are things to consider for a kid experiencing exercise intolerance besides exercise induced asthma?
Cardiac disease, anemia, muscle weakness, poor conditioning, depression, distraction
What are 4 important risk factors for hospitalization for asthma?
- Chronic steroid use
- Hospitalization within the past year
- Low socioeconomic status, low educational level
- Previous life threatening episode
What are risk factors for asthma persisting into adulthood?
Rule of E's and 3's 3 years of age (onset before 3) IgE Elevation Maternal history of asthma (think of M as sideways E) Eosinophilia
What % of kids with mild asthma will outgrow the symptoms by adulthood?
60%
What % of infants with severe RSV bronchiolitis will develop recurrent wheezing?
50%
A type 1 allergic reaction is mediated by what?
IgE mediated…anaphylactic reaction
Anaphylactic = A = Type 1
A type 2 allergic reaction is mediated by what?
Mediated by antibodies
Body = B = Type 2
What causes a type 3 allergic reaction?
Immune complex/
1 + 2 = 3/Complex
What is a Type IV allergic reaction?
Delayed Hypersensitivity
Poison IV = Roman numeral 4 = IV
When is allergy testing indicated?
Any time symptoms are significant and/or require specific treatment, like in case of…severe atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis unresponsive to routine treatment, food allergy, persistent asthma, insect sting allergy, vaccine or drug allergy, latex allergy
What can interfere with the results of skin allergy testing?
Antihistamines…can be tricky with things like antidepressants or other medications that have antihistaminic effects
What is the only antibiotic reaction that can be “skin IgE tested”?
Penicillin allergy
*The IgE mediated reaction is one that begins within 24 hours of exposure…if the reaction occurs later, then it isn’t IgE mediated and not verifiable by skin testing.
What are the chances of a kid who had a previous skin reaction to penicillin having a similar reaction to a cephalosporin?
Less than 10%
What presents with symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, swollen, or watery eyes?
Allergic rhinitis
What is present in nasal secretions in patients with allergic rhinitis?
Eosinophils
How does non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome (NARES) present?
Allergy symptoms and eosinophils on nasal smear, but skin tests are negative and serum IgE levels would not be elevated
What is perennial allergic rhinitis due to?
Exposure to indoor allergens such as dust mites and animal dander
What is the first step in treating allergic rhinitis?
Identify and eliminate the offending allergen (followed by medication if necessary)
What is the first line drug treatment for allergic rhinitis?
Nasal steroids
What can be used when indicated for allergic rhinitis (after nasal steroids are used)?
Oral antihistamines or antihistamine-containing eye drops
Does in vitro allergy testing (RAST testing) correlate well with skin prick testing?
Yes
What are 3 reasons in vitro allergy testing (RAST testing) is helpful?
- Children on chronic antihistamines because there is no need to stop these medications
- Preferred in kids with extensive eczema or skin infections limiting testing area
- Testing kids who have had life-threatening allergic reactions to the suspected trigger
What are 2 limitations of IgE testing?
Higher cost and higher false positive rate
When do you need to get rid of a pet for allergy issues?
When it is the clear cause of an exacerbation of symptoms, taking steps to reduce the exposure is usually the answer (because of the emotional attachment kids have to their pets). At the very least, the pet should be kept out of the child’s bedroom at all times.
How does infectious rhinitis present?
In younger children with nasal congestion that is worse in winter
What presents with congestion, rhinorrhea, and post-nasal drainage that is unrelated to any specific triggering or infectious agent?
Vasomotor rhinitis
What can trigger vasomotor rhinitis?
Emotions, pollution, cold drafts, rapid temperature changes, or changes in humidity
What is rhinitis medicamentosa?
Rebound reaction to adrenergic nose drops (results in severe nasal congestion)
What age do you usually not see seasonal allergic rhinitis before and why?
3…Seasonal (outdoor) allergic rhinitis requires repeated exposure over years, and is usually not seen before 3 (beware of history if they are saying things like “hay fever” or making you think the kid is allergic to pollen)
What is the most likely diagnosis in a kid younger than 3 who presents with recurrent rhinorrhea?
Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection
What are kids with allergic rhinitis at risk for?
Sinusitis (this is often underdiagnosed)
In kid with chronic allergic rhinitis, what should you watch for signs of?
Sinusitis
What other upper respiratory issue are kids with chronic allergic rhinitis at increased risk for?
Otitis media
What is oral allergy syndrome?
Caused when certain allergens come in contact with the oral mucosa
Kid with allergic rhinitis who complains of a tingling sensation in or around the mouth when eating a specific food (like raw fruits or veggies)…
Oral allergy syndrome
When are food allergies most common?
In early childhood (and diminish with age)
The prevalence of food allergy is much higher in which kids?
Children with atopic diseases like allergic rhinitis, eczema, and asthma
Which kids should be sent for food allergy testing?
Infants with severe eczema and kids with persistent asthma
What are the most common food allergens in the pediatric population?
Cow milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, wheat, fish
Which fruits should someone with a latex allergy avoid?
Avocado, banana, chestnut, fig, kiwi, peach, and tomato
The typical reaction to the consumption of these would be oral allergy syndrome
Milk, egg, and soy allergies are often outgrown by what age?
5
When a 5 year old makes MES it can be cleaned up: Milk, Eggs, Soy
Which allergies to foods are typically not outgrown?
Peanuts, tree nuts, and seafood
What type of reactions are usually rapid in onset and occur within minutes of ingestion and up to 2 hours afterward?
IgE mediated
When does food poisoning usually present?
6 or more hours after ingestion
What two tests have low positive predictive value for food allergy?
Positive skin prick and IgE testing (up to 60% of positive tests don’t reflect actual symptoms on ingestion)
Do negative skin prick and IgE testing rule out food allergy
Yes (virtually)
Allergy test are good screeNs, which are seNsitive to rule out conditions, but no sPecific to diagnose them
What is the only proven therapy after food allergy has been identified?
Strict elimination of the specific food
What should you give to kids with anaphylactic reactions due to food allergies?
Autoinjectable epinephrine
Toddler with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.. which foods could be triggering it?
Do food allergy testing in order to specify any food allergies triggering the atopic dermatitis
Allergy shots is incorrect and don’t randomly eliminate multiple foods without evidence of correlation. Don’t be tempted to choose eliminating milk, eggs, soy, wheat, and peanuts just because they represent 90% of the foods that can cause atopic dermatitis.
What is a typical anaphylactic reaction categorized as?
Respiratory distress, urticaria, and general discomfort