Current Pediatric Reviews - Volume 14, Issue 3, 2018

An accurate diagnosis of food allergy is extremely important to guide safe and yet not overly restrictive dietary management. The cornerstone of the diagnosis of food allergy is the clinical history; it allows appropriate selection of the allergens to be tested and interpretation of the results of allergy tests, namely Skin Prick Test (SPT), Specific IgE (sIgE) to allergen extracts and, more recently, specific IgE to allergen component Read More

Food allergy is common in children. An accurate diagnosis remains a key element in order to instigate an effective management plan. Traditional management strategies have relied on a reactive approach, with allergen avoidance, management of accidental ingestion and monitoring for resolution. Active management of food allergies relies on strategies to prevent food allergy through early introduction of allergenic food Read More

The growing burden of food allergy is being driven by environmental exposures and the potential role of gut micro-organisms (or ‘microbiota’) is hotly debated. Early culture-based studies outlined that imbalances between commensal gut constituents (‘dysbiosis’) early in life may raise the risk of developing allergic disease. A number of studies using animal models describe mechanisms by which specific bacterial taxa within the Read More

Background: It is well known that there is a common interplay between atopic conditions and that having one atopic condition can predispose to the development of others. The link between asthma and food allergy has been well researched over the years; although the exact interplay between the two atopic conditions is yet to be fully described. Research suggests that children who have both asthma and food allergy are at gre Read More

Atopic dermatitis and food allergy are common conditions of childhood that are closely linked. 30% of children with moderate to severe eczema suffer from food allergy and can present with different types of reactions: immediate or IgE-mediated reactions, delayed or non-IgEmediated eczematous flares, or a combination of the two. A detailed history is very important when approaching such patients. The presence of Ig Read More

Background: Anaphylaxis is defined as a serious, generalized or systemic allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. It is unpredictable and can be the result of various allergic triggers including food, insect venom and medication. The European Anaphylaxis Registry confirmed food as the major elicitor of anaphylaxis in children, specifically hen's egg, cow's milk and nuts. Objectives: It has been report Read More

Background: Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the liver that most frequently affects children and young adults. It is a multifactorial disease of unknown etiology, characteristically progressive in nature, and if left untreated, may lead to cirrhosis and terminal liver failure. It has been known for several decades now that immunosuppressive treatment convincingly alters the outcome of most patients Read More

Background and Objective: Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology and comprises the triad: orofacial edema, recurrent facial paralysis and lingua plicata. In the current literature confusing heterogeneity exists, mixing together the historically grown terms cheilitis granulomatosa or granulomatous cheilitis, Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome and the umbrella term Orofacial Granulomatosis (OF Read More

Background: Febrile neutropenia is one of the major acute side effects of intensive treatment in pediatric cancer, necessitating prompt initiation of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics. Patients may be classified as low or high risk according some risk factors (duration of neutropenia, depth of neutropenia, type of cancer, state of disease, bone marrow involvement, type of treatment, additional health problems). Initial evaluatio Read More