Anafilaxia no primeiro ano de vida: como diagnosticar / Anaphylaxis in the first year of life: how to diagnose

A anafilaxia é uma reação alérgica mais grave e potencialmente fatal. Apresenta-se quase sempre com manifestações cutâneas, acompanhadas por acometimento dos sistemas respiratório, gastrointestinal, nervoso e cardiovascular. Indivíduos de todas as faixas etárias podem manifestar anafilaxia, e seu diagnóstico no primeiro ano de vida é difícil por ser o lactente incapaz de expressar de modo claro as sensações vividas durante o episódio agudo. Nessa faixa etária os alimentos são os agentes desencadeantes mais envolvidos, embora medicamentos e veneno de himenópteros também o sejam. Em pacientes submetidos a várias cirurgias e procedimentos médicos a alergia ao látex pode ocorrer. A adrenalina intramuscular é a primeira linha de tratamento da anafilaxia na fase inicial, mas continua sendo subutilizada. Além disso, medidas de suporte, tais como decúbito supino, reposição de fluidos, vias aéreas pérvias e oxigenação, devem ser instituídas. Após a alta, o paciente deve ser encaminhado à avaliação e seguimento por especialista visando à identificação do agente desencadeante, assim como educar responsáveis/cuidadores destes pacientes sobre a prevenção de novos episódios. É importante que esse paciente tenha consigo algum tipo de identificação que o aponte como tendo tido episódio de anafilaxia, sobretudo se tiver sido recorrente. A oferta de um plano escrito de como proceder diante de um novo episódio é fundamental.

Anaphylaxis is a serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction. Most frequently, it features cutaneous manifestations accompanied by involvement of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, nervous, and/or cardiovascular systems. Individuals of all age groups may present with anaphylaxis, and its diagnosis in the first year of life is difficult because the infant is unable to clearly express the sensations experienced during the acute episode. In this age group, foods are the most common triggering agents, together with medications and Hymenoptera venom. In patients undergoing multiple surgeries and medical procedures, latex allergy may occur. Intramuscular epinephrine is the first line of treatment for early anaphylaxis, but it remains underutilized. In addition, supportive measures such as supine decubitus, fluid replacement, patent airways, and oxygenation should be instituted. After discharge, the patient should be referred for evaluation and follow-up by a specialist, with the purpose of identifying the triggering agent as well as educating the caregivers of these patients about the prevention of new episodes. This patient should always carry some type of identification that indicates that he/she has had any episode of anaphylaxis, especially if it has been recurrent. Providing a written plan of how to proceed in the face of a new episode is essential.

Antiviral activity of animal venom peptides and related compounds

Viruses exhibit rapid mutational capacity to trick and infect host cells, sometimes assisted through virus-coded peptides that counteract host cellular immune defense. Although a large number of compounds have been identified as inhibiting various viral infections and disease progression, it is urgent to achieve the discovery of more effective agents. Furthermore, proportionally to the great variety of diseases caused by viruses, very few viral vaccines are available, and not all are efficient. Thus, new antiviral substances obtained from natural products have been prospected, including those derived from venomous animals. Venoms are complex mixtures of hundreds of molecules, mostly peptides, that present a large array of biological activities and evolved to putatively target the biochemical machinery of different pathogens or host cellular structures. In addition, non-venomous compounds, such as some body fluids of invertebrate organisms, exhibit antiviral activity. This review provides a panorama of peptides described from animal venoms that present antiviral activity, thereby reinforcing them as important tools for the development of new therapeutic drugs.(AU)

Antiviral activity of animal venom peptides and related compounds

Abstract Viruses exhibit rapid mutational capacity to trick and infect host cells, sometimes assisted through virus-coded peptides that counteract host cellular immune defense. Although a large number of compounds have been identified as inhibiting various viral infections and disease progression, it is urgent to achieve the discovery of more effective agents. Furthermore, proportionally to the great variety of diseases caused by viruses, very few viral vaccines are available, and not all are efficient. Thus, new antiviral substances obtained from natural products have been prospected, including those derived from venomous animals. Venoms are complex mixtures of hundreds of molecules, mostly peptides, that present a large array of biological activities and evolved to putatively target the biochemical machinery of different pathogens or host cellular structures. In addition, non-venomous compounds, such as some body fluids of invertebrate organisms, exhibit antiviral activity. This review provides a panorama of peptides described from animal venoms that present antiviral activity, thereby reinforcing them as important tools for the development of new therapeutic drugs.