Paediatric allergy

Question 1

Name 3 major stimuli which cause allergy

Answer 1

1. Inhalant allergens - house dust, plant pollen
2. Ingestant allergens
   - nuts, seeds, cows milk, eggs
3. Insect stings, bites, drugs and rubber latex

Question 2

Define allergy

Answer 2

1, Hypersensitivity reaction initiated by specific immunological mechnisms

• can be igE medicated
• or non igE mediated

Question 3

Define atopy

Answer 3

1. a personal or familial tendency to produce igE antibodies in response to ordinary exposures to potential antigens

Question 4

What is the characteristic course of IgE mediated immune reaction?

Answer 4

1. Early exposure - within minutes of exposure to allergen caused by release of histamine
2. Later phase - bronchospasm, nasal congestion and cough

Question 5

Clinical presentation of allergic reactions

Answer 5

1. Mouth breathing habitually
2. Pale and swollen inferior nasal turbinates
3. Hyper inflated chest

– Check growth - espec with food allergy, dietary restriction or malabsorbtion can restrict growth

Question 6

Mx of allergic reaction

Answer 6

1. MDT approach
   - Respiratory paediatricians, dermatologists
2. Specific allergic immunotherapy

Question 7

Allergic immunotherapy - what and why

Answer 7

• used for treating ; allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, insect stings and asthma
• solutions of an allergen to which patient is allergic is injected subcutaneously on a regular basis for 3 - 5 years

Question 8

What is the allergic march of disorders?

Answer 8

Allergic children develop individual allergic disorders at different ages