Latin American anaphylaxis registry.

Background: Recent data about clinical features, triggers and management of anaphylaxis in Latin America is lacking. Objective: To provide updated and extended data on anaphylaxis in this region. Method: An online questionnaire was used, with 67 allergy units involved from 12 Latin-American countries and Spain. Among data recorded, demographic information, clinical features, severity, triggering agents, and treatment were received. Results: Eight hundred and seventeen anaphylactic reactions were recorded. No difference in severity, regardless of pre-existing allergy or asthma history was found. Drug induced anaphylaxis (DIA) was most frequent (40.6%), followed by food induced anaphylaxis (FIA) (32.9%) and venom induced anaphylaxis (VIA) (12%). FIA and VIA were more common in children-adolescents. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and beta-lactam antibiotics (BLA) were the most frequent drugs involved. Milk (61.1% of FIA) and egg (15.4% of FIA) in children, and shellfish (25.5% of FIA), fresh fruits (14.2% of FIA), and fish (11.3% of FIA) in adults were the most common FIA triggers. Fire ants were the most frequent insect triggers, and they induced more severe reactions than triggers of FIA and DIA (p < 0.0001). Epinephrine was used in 43.8% of anaphylaxis episodes. After Emergency Department treatment, epinephrine was prescribed to 13% of patients. Conclusions: Drugs (NSAIDs and BLA), foods (milk and egg in children and shellfish, fruits and fish in adults) and fire ants were the most common inducers of anaphylaxis. Epinephrine was used in less than half of the episodes emphasizing the urgent need to improve dissemination and implementation of anaphylaxis guidelines.

[Classification of food allergy: generalities]. / Clasificación de la alergia alimentaria: generalidades.

The prevalence of food allergy has increased in some regions of the world, and with it the incidence, according to geographical variability, in the phenotype and clinical manifestations. Food allergy arises from the specific immune response induced by exposure to the proteins of a certain food. Food intolerance refers to non-immune reactions, caused by unique physiological characteristics of the individual, including metabolic, toxic, pharmacological and undefined mechanisms. Adverse reactions to foods are classified as: IgE-mediated: Type I Hypersensitivity, non-IgE-mediated: Type IV Hypersensitivity, mixed: Types I and IV Hypersensitivity Non-Allergic; toxic, pharmacological, metabolic, intolerances. These types of alterations are rare but have increased in recent years; These include protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, which can cause emesis, diarrhea and hypotension, and shock, which begins two hours after ingestion of the allergen. Protein-induced allergic proctocolitis is a condition that includes allergy to cow's milk protein. Delayed reactions usually affect the digestive system, are more insidious in their onset and are not immediately controlled, even with the suspension of food. There are eight foods responsible for 90% of food allergies: milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, walnuts, fish, and shellfish.

La prevalencia de alergia alimentaria se ha incrementado en algunas regiones del mundo, y con ello la incidencia, según la variabilidad geográfica, en el fenotipo y manifestaciones clínicas. La alergia alimentaria surge de la respuesta inmune específica inducida por la exposición a las proteínas de cierto alimento. La intolerancia alimentaria se refiere a reacciones no inmunitarias, causadas por características fisiológicas únicas del individuo, que incluyen mecanismos metabólicos, tóxicos, farmacológicos e indefinidos. Las reacciones adversas a los alimentos se clasifican en: mediada por IgE: Hipersensibilidad Tipo I, no mediada por IgE: Hipersensibilidad Tipo IV, mixtas: Hipersensibilidad Tipos I y IV No Alérgicas; tóxicas, farmacológicas, metabólicas, intolerancias. Este tipo de alteraciones son poco frecuentes, pero se ha incrementado en los últimos años; entre estas se encuentra el síndrome de enterocolitis inducida por proteínas, que puede producir emesis, diarrea e hipotensión, y estado de shock, que inicia dos horas después de la ingestión del alergeno. La proctocolitis alérgica inducida por proteínas es una afectación que incluye la alergia a la proteína de leche de vaca. Las reacciones retardadas suelen afectar el aparato digestivo, son más insidiosas en su inicio y no se controlan inmediatamente, aún con la suspensión del alimento. Existen ocho alimentos responsables del 90% de alergia alimentaria: leche, huevo, soya, trigo, cacahuate, nuez, pescados y mariscos.

Latin American chronic urticaria registry (CUR) contribution to the understanding and knowledge of the disease in the region.

Chronic urticaria (CU) has a widespread spectrum on causal or exacerbating factors, clinical manifestations, therapeutic response and quality of life affectation. Registries are useful tools in several real-life diagnosis and management approach.We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of CU patients living in Latin America through an original cross-sectional registry with data entered by regional allergologists. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were included, being 72% female, with median age of 36 years (1-85) and 20 months of CU median evolution time. The cause of CU was reported as unknown in 72% of them.Thirty-nine percent of suspected cases presented positive serology for Mycoplasma, positive autologous serum skin test (ASST) was reported in 47%, and occasional presence of thyroid or antinuclear autoantibodies and parasites. The impact of pruritus in their quality of life was moderate to severe in 60% of patients, with almost 3 out of four patients having partial or lack of urticaria control with anti-histamines. CONCLUSIONS: Our registry provides retrospective data on the real-life assistance of a large number of patients from the region. Continuous search for associated conditions and better treatment possibilities are needed, in order to control the significant impact on quality of life and the length of disease.