PURPOSE: Age-based causes and clinical characteristics of immediate-type food allergy (FA) have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, we investigated age-dependent clinical profiles of FA in Korean children through an extensive multicenter investigation. METHODS: Using a case report form developed by the authors, a retrospective medical record review was performed of patients (0-18 years old) diagnosed with immediate-type FA between September 2014 and August 2015 in 14 tertiary hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: A total of 1,353 children and adolescents, 93% younger than 7 years, were enrolled in the present study, and 1,661 cases of immediate-type FA were recorded in these patients. The 7 major causative foods were cow's milk (28.1%), hen's eggs (27.6%), wheat (7.9%), walnuts (7.3%), peanuts (5.3%), buckwheat (1.9%), and shrimps (1.9%). Categorizing the patients into 4 age groups revealed that the most common causative food was different for each age group: cow's milk (<2 years), walnuts (2–6 years), walnuts (7–12 years), and buckwheat (13-18 years). The onset time of symptoms was less than 10 minutes in 49%, between 10 and 30 minutes in 17%, and between 30 minutes and 2 hours in 34% of cases. Food-induced anaphylaxis was reported in 506 (30.5%) out of 1,661 cases, and the 7 major causes of food-induced anaphylaxis was cow's milk (27.5%), hen's eggs (21.9%), wheat (11.3%), walnuts (10.5%), peanuts (5.9%), buckwheat (4.2%), and pine nuts (3.0%). The proportion of anaphylaxis was highest in the patients allergic to buckwheat (67.7%), followed by those allergic to pine nuts (57.7%), walnuts (43.8%), wheat (43.5%), and peanuts (34.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The 5 major causative foods of immediate-type FA in Korean children were cow's milk, hen's eggs, wheat, walnuts, and peanuts. The distribution of causative foods was considerably distinctive according to different age groups. Anaphylaxis was reported in 30.5% of immediate-type FA cases.
Adolescent ; Anaphylaxis ; Arachis ; Child* ; Eggs ; Fagopyrum ; Food Hypersensitivity* ; Humans ; Juglans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Milk ; Nuts ; Ovum ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Triticum

PURPOSE: Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) has been suggested as a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation in asthma. The aim of this study was to determine its clinical implication in children with asthma. METHODS: A total of 233 children were enrolled in this study. Among them, 116 were asthmatic children and 117 were healthy children. Spirometry, bronchodilator response (BDR) test, methacholine challenge test, and skin prick test were performed. EBT, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), blood eosinophils, and total IgE levels were measured. EBT was measured by using X-halo. RESULTS: EBT was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (median [interquartile range], 32.1℃ [30.0℃–33.9℃] vs. 29.7℃ [29.0℃–31.3℃], P<0.001). EBT was significantly higher in poorly or partly controlled asthmatic children than well-controlled asthmatic children (33.5℃ [31.0℃–34.4℃] vs. 30.3℃ [29.3℃–32.9℃], P<0.0001). Among total subjects, EBT was significantly higher in the atopic group than in the nonatopic group (32.4℃ [30.3℃–34.0℃] vs. 29.8℃ [29.0℃–30.3℃], P<0.001). There were neither significant associations between EBT and BDR (r=0.109, P=0.241) nor between EBT and PC20 (provocation concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1) in total subjects (r=0.127, P=0.316). EBT did not show any association with FeNO (r=0.353, P=0.071). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that EBT might play a role as an ancillary marker for allergic airway inflammation and the degree of control in pediatric asthma patients. Additional studies are required to explore the value of EBT in detail.
Asthma* ; Child ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Nitric Oxide ; Skin ; Spirometry

PURPOSE: Although anaphylaxis is recognized as an important, life-threatening condition, data are limited regarding its triggers in different age groups. We aimed to identify anaphylaxis triggers by age in Korean children. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of medical records for children diagnosed with anaphylaxis between 2009 and 2013 in 23 secondary or tertiary hospitals in South Korea. RESULTS: A total of 991 cases (mean age=5.89±5.24) were reported, with 63.9% involving patients younger than 6 years of age and 66% involving male children. Food was the most common anaphylaxis trigger (74.7%), followed by drugs and radiocontrast media (10.7%), idiopathic factors (9.2%), and exercise (3.6%). The most common food allergen was milk (28.4%), followed by egg white (13.6%), walnut (8.0%), wheat (7.2%), buckwheat (6.5%), and peanut (6.2%). Milk and seafood were the most common anaphylaxis triggers in young and older children, respectively. Drug-triggered anaphylaxis was observed more frequently with increasing age, with antibiotics (34.9%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (17.9%) being the most common causes. CONCLUSIONS: The most common anaphylaxis trigger in Korean children was food. Data on these triggers show that their relative frequency may vary by age.
Anaphylaxis* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arachis ; Child* ; Contrast Media ; Egg White ; Epidemiology ; Fagopyrum ; Humans ; Juglans ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Milk ; Retrospective Studies* ; Seafood ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Triticum

Foreign body aspiration commonly occurs, especially among children younger than 3 years of age. Most endobronchial foreign bodies may be easily removed by bronchoscopy and have a good prognosis. Despite advances in bronchoscopic procedures, difficulties in management of and complications from foreign body aspiration are still noted. We present a foreign body aspiration case with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused aspiration pneumonia, which was successfully treated by bronchoscopy under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO can be an effective and potentially life-saving method in complicated foreign body aspiration with uncompensated respiratory failure.
Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Respiratory Insufficiency

PURPOSE: Reliable predictors of tolerance to cooked egg in an egg allergic population are not established. We investigated the usefulness of the skin prick test to cooked egg in children with egg allergy. METHODS: We studied 36 children with egg allergy. Skin prick tests (SPTs) for the uncooked or cooked form of egg white and egg yolk, whole egg, ovomucoid (OVM), and ovalbumin (OVA) were performed at diagnosis. The reagents of cooked egg for SPT were prepared by baking for 25 minutes in 200 degree oven. We also examined specific IgE levels to whole egg, egg white, egg yolk, OVM, and OVA. RESULTS: Patients with history of allergic reaction to extensively heated egg showed significantly increased wheal size for cooked egg white (median [interquartile range]), 10.5 [7.0-14.6] vs. 4.2 [0.0-5.6], P<0.001) and OVM (9.6 [7.3-13.8] vs. 5.6 [0.0-7.8], P=0.001) than those without the history. The strongest positive correlation was found between wheal size for cooked egg white and OVM (r=0.788, P<0.001). SPT wheal size for cooked egg white were positively correlated with serum OVM-specific IgE levels (r=0.691, P<0.001). Cutoff value was 7.0 mm in SPT wheal size for cooked egg white, the sensitivity was 73.1% and specificity was 99.0%. SPT for cooked egg white showed significantly higher area under curve than serum egg white specific IgE. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that SPT to cooked egg white may be useful predictor of allergic reaction to cooked egg. Further investigations will be needed.
Area Under Curve ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Egg Hypersensitivity* ; Egg Proteins ; Egg White ; Egg Yolk ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Indicators and Reagents ; Ovalbumin ; Ovomucin ; Ovum* ; Skin Tests ; Skin*

PURPOSE: The goal of asthma control is to maintain well-controlled state. In this study, we investigated whether childhood asthma control test (C-ACT) may reflect lung function and whether fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) can be used to improve the accuracy of C-ACT in reflecting the asthma control level. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 155 patients with asthma underwent lung function tests and C-ACT upon visiting our outpatient clinic. We compared lung function test results according to the C-ACT score stratified by atopy and also examined FeNO according to C-ACT and the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. The diagnostic accuracy of well-controlled asthma by C-ACT, FeNO, and C-ACT+FeNO was examined. We also calculated the cutoff value of FeNO and C-ACT for well-controlled asthma. RESULTS: Peak expiratory flow (PEF) showed a significant correlation with the C-ACT score. Stratified by atopy, PEF, and forced expiration in one second (FEV1) showed significant correlations with the C-ACT score in the atopic asthma group. There was no difference in FeNO between subjects with C-ACT> or =20 and <20, but FeNO was significantly higher in the uncontrolled asthma according to the GINA guidelines. The diagnostic accuracy of well-controlled asthma was higher when FeNO was combined with the C-ACT score than C-ACT or FeNO. Our study showed that the cutoff values of C-ACT and FeNO 19 and 18.3 ppb (parts per billion), respectively, for well-controlled asthma. CONCLUSION: C-ACT showed a significant correlation with PEF, and atopic asthma group showed significant correlations with PEF and FEV1. A combination of C-ACT with FeNO might reflect asthma control status more accurately.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Asthma* ; Child ; Humans ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Nitric Oxide ; Respiratory Function Tests

In this paper, acknowledgments section for grant support was omitted unintentionally.

PURPOSE: The clinical interpretation of children sensitized to allergens is challenging, particularly in children with food allergies. We aimed to examine clinical differences between children with monosensitization and those with polysensitization to common food allergens and to determine risk factors for polysensitization in young children <10 years of age with immediate-type food allergies. METHODS: The study included children <10 years of age with signs and symptoms indicative of immediate-type food allergies. Serum total IgE level was measured, and ImmunoCAP analysis for food allergens was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 1.6+/-1.6 years (75 boys and 51 girls). Thirty-eight children (30.2%) were monosensitized and 88 children (69.8%) were polysensitized. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the development of polysensitization to common food allergens was positively associated with a parental history of allergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78-22.13; P=0.004), season of birth (summer/fall) (aOR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.10-8.79; P=0.033), and exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of age (aOR, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.20-10.25; P=0.022). CONCLUSION: We found significant clinical differences between children with monosensitization and those with polysensitization to common food allergens and identified risk factors for the development of polysensitization in young children with immediate-type food allergies. Clinicians should consider these clinical risk factors when evaluating, counseling, treating, and monitoring young children with food allergies.
Allergens ; Breast Feeding ; Child* ; Counseling ; Food Hypersensitivity* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Parturition ; Rhinitis ; Risk Factors ; Seasons

Drug hypersensitivity is one of drug adverse reactions that develop in susceptible patients following exposure to certain drugs and cannot be predicted from the known pharmacology of a drug. Severe hypersensitivity is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although the issue of hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been largely investigated in adults, data related to NSAIDs hypersensitivity is insufficient in childhood. And in spite of the recommendation to avoid use of aspirin due to Reye syndrome in children, aspirin is one of major treatment along with intravenous immunoglobulin in Kawasaki disease. We report a case of a 10-month-old boy who underwent intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin treatment for Kawasaki disease, and subsequently revealed severe leukocytosis and eosinophilia. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of aspirin-induced eosinophilia in Korea.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Aspirin* ; Child* ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Eosinophilia* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Pharmacology ; Reye Syndrome

PURPOSE: Asthma is a chronic airway inflammation. We evaluated whether systemic inflammatory patterns could reflect the nature of airway inflammation. We assessed characteristics of asthma according to systemic inflammatory patterns. METHODS: A total of 413 children with asthma were enrolled in the study. Four systemic inflammatory patterns were classified according to eosinophil and neutrophil counts in peripheral blood. Children with neutrophil count> or =5,000/microL were defined as the NEU(hi) group, those with neutrophil count <2,720/microL as the NEU(lo) group. The intermediate group with neutrophil count between 2,720/microL and 5,000/uL was excluded from the study. Children with eosinophil> or =650/microL were defined as the EOS(hi) group, those with eosinophil count<240/microL as the EOS(lo) group. The remaining patients were excluded from the study. The characteristics of asthma include pulmonary function test results, bronchodilator response, airway hyperresponsiveness, and atopy. RESULTS: The EOS(hi) group had a lower PC20 (provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]), a lower FEV1, and a higher immunoglobulin E level rather than the EOS(lo) groups, although there were no significant differences between the NEU(hi) and NEU(lo) groups. The eosinophil percentages of the induced sputum samples were higher in the EOS(hi) group than the EOS(lo) group and correlated with blood eosinophil counts. CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic inflammation was related to characteristics of asthma and sputum eosinophils. However, neutrophilic inflammation reflected neither asthma features, sputum neutrophils, nor eosinophilic inflammation. Further studies on blood neutrophils involving asthma phenotypes in terms of more specific characteristics of asthma should be needed in children.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Eosinophils ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Neutrophils ; Phenotype ; Population Characteristics* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sputum