Maggio 2014 - Volume XXXIII - numero 5
Aggiornamento
1IRCCS Materno-Infantile “Burlo Garofolo”; 2Università di Trieste
Indirizzo per corrispondenza: giorgio.longo@burlo.trieste.it
Key words: Specific immunotherapy, Allergy, Hymenoptera venom
Hymenoptera venom allergy is a rare occurrence in children, so paediatricians are frequently unprepared and thus incapable of giving adequate answers. The allergy has usually a benign natural history: systemic reactions characterized only by cutaneous manifestation can either disappear completely, or maintain the same, low severity in case of following punctures. Severe systemic reactions presenting with respiratory and/or cardiocirculatory symptoms and/or laryngeal oedema, exceptionally fatal in paediatric age, are a strong indication for specific immunotherapy (SIT). There are three important reasons for this statement: contrary to common past belief, severe systemic reactions do not disappear rapidly after the paediatric age; SIT for hymenoptera venom is very effective and its effectiveness persists for years after suspension; affected patients' and families' quality of life is frequently lowered by the fear of new punctures and the prescription of adrenaline for auto-injection often worsens the fear instead of helping.
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