Adverse reactions to foods consist of any untoward reaction following the ingestion of a food or food additive and are classically divided into food intolerances (e.g., lactose intolerance ), which are adverse physiologic responses, and food allergies, which are adverse…
Serum sickness is a systemic, immune complex–mediated hypersensitivity vasculitis classically attributed to the therapeutic administration of foreign serum proteins or other medications ( Table 175.1 ). Table 175.1 From Aceves SS: Serum sickness. In Burg FD, Ingelfinger JR, Polin RA,…
Anaphylaxis is defined as a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. Anaphylaxis in children, particularly infants, is underdiagnosed. Anaphylaxis occurs when there is a sudden release of potent, biologically active mediators from mast cells…
Urticaria and angioedema affect 20% of individuals at some point in their life. Episodes of hives that last for <6 wk are considered acute, whereas those that occur on most days of the week for >6 wk are designated chronic. The distinction…
The eye is a common target of allergic disorders because of its marked vascularity and direct contact with allergens in the environment. The conjunctiva is the most immunologically active tissue of the external eye. Ocular allergies can occur as isolated…
Allergic responses to stinging or, more rarely, biting insects vary from localized cutaneous reactions to systemic anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions caused by inhalation of airborne particles of insect origin result in acute and chronic respiratory symptoms of seasonal or perennial rhinitis,…
Atopic dermatitis (AD) , or eczema, is the most common chronic relapsing skin disease seen in infancy and childhood. It affects 10–30% of children worldwide and frequently occurs in families with other atopic diseases. Infants with AD are predisposed to…
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lung airways resulting in episodic airflow obstruction. This chronic inflammation heightens the twitchiness of the airways— airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR)— to common provocative exposures. Asthma management is aimed at reducing airways inflammation by…
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic disease affecting 20–30% of children. AR is an inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa marked by nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and itching, often accompanied by sneezing and conjunctival inflammation. Its recognition as a major…
Allergy History Obtaining a complete history from the allergic patient involves eliciting a description of all symptoms along with their timing and duration, exposure to common allergens, and responses to previous therapies. Because patients often suffer from more than one…