Safety of subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy in children: A retrospective review and bird eye to literature

Abstract

Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) has been shown to improve clinical course in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). Systemic and local side-effects may be seen during its administration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with systemic and local side-effects in children receiving SCIT. We performed a retrospective chart review in the children who received allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy for asthma and/or allergen rhinitis. Demographic data, diagnosis, skin prick test results, presence of additional allergic diseases, the seasonal variation of adverse events in the first and third years of SCIT were recorded. A total of 508 eligible patients were included in the study. Mean age of the children was 10.9±3.2 years, and 65.4% were male. Asthma was present in 21.9% of the children, AR in 44.7%, 33.5% of them had both asthma and AR. According to the skin prick test results, sensitivity to more than one allergen was present in 45.1%, while the most common single-allergen sensitivities were to grass pollen and dermatophagoids (32.5% and 14.4%, respectively). Ratio of systemic and local side-effects was 4.7% and 9.3%, respectively. Local side-effects were more common than systemic reaction. SCIT is a safe treatment modality while using the appropriate dose and with the administration of dose-escalation protocol.

Keywords

• allergic rhinitis
• asthma
• side effects
• subcutaneous immunotherapy