Alergia a ß-lactámicos en niños / Allergy to Betalactams in children

Allergy to Betalactams is a widely suspected pathology, which is not regularly studied in Chile, leading to a misusage of antibiotics of other families. In this article a case report in a pediatric patient will be described, and a discussion about the studies needed for this pathology, and treatment will be made in accordance to the experiences and tools available in Chile, and specifically in University of Chile Clinical Hospital. In our Hospital we study these cases following international guidelines for the diagnosis of allergy to Betalactams. (AU)

Úlceras orales recurrentes: características clínicas y diagnóstico diferencial / Recurrent oral ulcer: clinical characteristic and differential diagnosis

Las úlceras orales recurrentes (UOR), son lesiones inflamatorias frecuentes de la mucosa oral. Generalmente, son redondas u ovaladas, rodeadas por un halo eritematoso de fondo amarillo grisáceo y dolorosas en su mayoría. Las UOR alcanzan una frecuencia de hasta 20% en la población general, afectando a cualquier grupo etario, en especial a adolescentes y adultos jóvenes. La etiopatogenia de las UOR no está completamente dilucidada; algunos factores involucrados incluyen alteraciones inmunológicas, infecciones, déficit nutricional, traumas de la mucosa, alergia alimentaria y de contacto, enfermedades autoinmunes y neo-plasias; junto con factores psiquiátricos, genéticos y medioambientales. En el presente artículo se discuten las características clínicas, factores etiológicos, diagnósticos diferenciales y el estudio de las UOR.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), are common inflammatory lesions of the oral mucous, usually round or ovoid, circumscribed by an erytematous haloes with a yellow-grey floor and mostly painful. The RAS has reach an incidence about 20% in general population, present on any aged group, especially adolescents and young adults. Etiopathogenesis of RAS is not entirely understood. Some factors involved include immune system anomalies, infections, nutritional deficiency, mucous traumatism, food or contact allergy, autoimmunity illness and cancer; together with psychiatric, genetic and environment agents. In this article, main clinical features, etiology related factors, differential diagnosis and initial study of patients consulting for RAS are presented.

Prevalencia de sensibilización a látex en personal de pabellones quirúrgicos del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile / Prevalence of latex hypersensitivity in operating room workers of the University of Chile Clinical Hospital

Background: Health care workers (HCW) are a high risk group for developing natural rubber latex (NRL) hypersensitivity and allergy. Some studies showed a correlation between time and frequency of exposure to NRL gloves and hypersensitivity, but a recent meta-analysis showed no clear evidences for such assumption. Aim: To determine the prevalence of NRL hypersensitivity and allergy in a group of HCW at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital. Materials and Methods: Ninety five HCW (aged 37±10 years, 59 females) were interviewed about time of exposure, atopic diseases and latex-related allergy symptoms. Different NRL extracts and seven NRL gloves brands were tested by the prick test method. Results: Twenty four workers (25%, 95% CI = 16.9%-35.2%) were sensitized. No gender differences were found. No symptomatic cases were found in the sensitized group. In the workplace, six and two non sensitized subjects had respiratory symptoms or contact urticaria, respectively. Sensitivity to bananas, avocadoes, kiwi and chestnut was not significantly more common among latex sensitive individuals. No differences between sensitized and non sensitized subjects were observed for the presence of atopic diseases or the mean number of years at the workplace. The sensitization rate to NRL increased along with years of work, from 18.6% in patients working less than 10 years, to 28.1% in the group between 10 and 20 years and to 35% in those working more than 21 years (p=0.693). Sensitization was also related to the weekly hours of exposure: 1-10 hours, 17%; 11-20 hours, 23.5%; 21-30 hours, 50% and 31-40 hours, 28.5% (p=0.036). Conclusions: Sensitization increased proportionally to the years and weekly hours wearing NLR gloves. We did not find symptomatic patients in the sensitized group.

Alergia a beta-lactámicos / Allergy to betalactams

La alergia a b-lactámicos es la primera causa de alergia medicamentosa en el mundo. En nuestro país, el estudio in vivo (pruebas cutááneas) realizado regularmente no se efectúa de acuerdo a patrones internacionales establecidos. Este artículo revisa el diagnóstico y manejo de estas reacciones. Las reacciones alérgicas a b-lactámicos pueden clasificarse, según su perfil temporal, en inmediatas, aceleradas y tardías, lo que se relaciona con las manifestaciones clínicas y mecanismos patogénicos. La mayor parte de las reacciones inmediatas y aceleradas son mediadas por IgE, con expresión clínica de hipersensibilidad inmediata. Entre las reacciones tardías destacan las toxidermias y exantemas máculo-papulares, mediadas probablemente por hipersensibilidad retardada. Los alergenos implicados en las reacciones de hipersensibilidad inmediata a b-lactámicos pueden ser los determinantes mayores (75 por ciento de los casos), determinantes menores o las cadenas laterales de los fármacos sospechosos. El estudio de estos pacientes incluye IgE específicas, pruebas cutáneas y pruebas de provocación. Los objetivos de estos estudios son diagnosticar reactividades cruzadas o monosensibilizaciones, y autorizar o prohibir la utilización de todos los b-lactámicos o sólo algunos de los fármacos del grupo, además de asegurar la tolerancia a fármacos alternativos.