medication-induced anaphylaxis

Q: Which patients' population is more prone to have medication-induced anaphylaxis? (select one) 

A) Adult
B) Children


Answer: A

Contrary to popular belief, medication-induced anaphylaxis is more common in adults than children or adolescents. The most common categories implicated in this side-effect are 

• Beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins) 
• Radiocontrast agents 
• Neuromuscular blockers
• anesthetics
• Allergen immunotherapy
• Other antibiotics

#Allergy-immunology

#pharmacology

References:

1. Mullins RJ, Wainstein BK, Barnes EH, et al. Increases in anaphylaxis fatalities in Australia from 1997 to 2013. Clin Exp Allergy 2016; 46:1099.

2. Turner PJ, Jerschow E, Umasunthar T, et al. Fatal Anaphylaxis: Mortality Rate and Risk Factors. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2017; 5:1169.

3. Turner PJ, Gowland MH, Sharma V, et al. Increase in anaphylaxis-related hospitalizations but no increase in fatalities: an analysis of United Kingdom national anaphylaxis data, 1992-2012. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015; 135:956.

4. Pumphrey R. Anaphylaxis: can we tell who is at risk of a fatal reaction? Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2004; 4:285.