A 15-Year Review of the Clinical Features of Anaphylaxis in Pediatric Patients (ages 0-18 years) admitted at De La Salle University Medical Center (2000-2014).

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical features and outcome of pediatric patients with anaphylaxis. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional Retrospective Descriptive Study SETTING: Tertiary Hospital PARTICICPANTS: Study population was based on an inclusion criteria as follows: 1. Pediatric patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis at a Tertiary Hospital, admitted from June 2000 to June 2014; 2. Patients aged 18 years old and below; 3. Medical records with complete patient data in terms of : age, gender, clinical history and physical examination, management and outcome. METHODS: A chart review of pediatric patients admitted for anaphylaxis in this institution was done. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were included in the study. Most are 5-14 years of age. A 1.9:1 male to female predilection was noted. There was an increasing trend in the number of anaphylaxis from 2000-2014. Only 41.37% (12) had family history of allergy. Most of the patient exhibited cutaneous signs and symptoms (pruritus, flushing, urticarial or angioedema), followed by anaphylactic reaction. The most common trigger factor(s) among the pediatric patient s were food (51.72%), drugs (24.13%), and unidentified causes (17.24%) common management given  included antihistamines, corticosteroids, crystalloids, inhaled beta 2-agonist, oxygen therapy and epinephrine. Patients had an average hospital stay of 1-2 days and none required admission to the intensive care unit.CONCLUSION:This study showed that there is an increasing trend in the recognition of pediatric patients with anaphylactic reaction starting 2011; which can be attributed to the revision of the criteria in the diagnosis of anaphylaxis in 2011. Although epinephrine should be the first line of treatment, this study showed that antihistamine is the most common drug given.