scholarly journals Inverse association between positive tuberculin tests and positive allergy skin tests in children

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Nur Rochmah ◽  
Dyahris Kuntartiwi ◽  
Anang Endaryanto ◽  
Aryanto Harsono

Background  The  association between  Mycobacterium  tuberculosisinfection  and  atopy remains controversial. Reaction to tuberculosisinfection  is  mediated  by  Th-1  immune responses whereas allergicreactions are mediated  by  Th- 2 immune response. In patients withatopic syndrome who also suffer from tuberculosis infection,  theTh-2  response will be suppressed  and  allergy manifestations willdecrease. Therefore, it  is  important to determine the appropriateallergy test and to predict outcome after completing tuberculosistreatment.Objective  To  evaluate the influence  of  a positive tuberculin teston  skin test results in diagnosing atopic disease.Methods  A cross sectional study was  conducted  in  the  pediatricallergy  outpatient  clinic, Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesiabetween 2004  and  2007. Eighty-five patients were enrolled inthis study.  The  tuberculin test was performed  on  all patientswith allergy.  The  allergy test was carried  out  by  performing a skinscratch test.Results  There  was a weak inverse correlation between positivetuberculin tests and positive allergy skin tests in children (housedust  mite, food  and  pet  allergies).  The  correlation between apositive  tuberculin  test  and  house  dust  mite allergy test wasr:  -0.364  (P=O.OOl;  a=O.Ol).  The  correlation  between  thetuberculin  test  and  food allergies was  r:  -0.420  (P=O.OOl;a=O.Ol).  The  correlation between the tuberculin test  and  petallergies was  r:  -0.344  (P=  0.001;  a=O.Ol).Conclusions  A positive tuberculin test  is  weakly correlated withpositive allergy skin test results, suggesting  that  it  is  appropriate  todo allergy skin testing even in children with a positive tuberculintest.

1981 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. 327-332
Author(s):  
Lillian P. Kravis

Allergic disorders may be classified into four main categories of immunologic hypersensitivity reactions: type I, immediate or anaphylactic; type II, cytotoxic; type III, involving immune complexes; and type IV, delayed or cell mediated. Type I reactions are those most commonly encountered in clinical allergy. They may be well defined by skin testing, provided the patients to be tested are carefully selected and the tests are applied properly and interpreted critically. Major indications for direct skin testing are: (1) to separate atopic from nonatopic patients; (2) to help in identifying specific allergens in atopic persons; and (3) to reassess the allergic profile in patients receiving immunotherapy. Other indications for skin-testing, of more limited applicability, include: (1) screening for hypersensitivity to vaccines; (2) testing for reactivity to drugs (and particularly penicillin); (3) testing for immediate and delayed reactions in such conditions as bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; and (4) in evaluation of patients with reactions to insect stings. Skin-testing has limited usefulness in early infancy, in chronic urticaria, in the investigation of food allergies, in atopic dermatitis not accompanied by other manifestations of atopy, or in allergic reactions to drugs other than penicillin. A checklist to be consulted prior to performing or interpreting skin tests should include: (1) assurance of the potency of the extract used in testing; (2) knowledge of the nonspecific irritant properties of any extracts used for testing; (3) history of administration of antihistamine drugs or epinephrine prior to testing; and (4) the correlation of skin test results with clinical history. The help of a qualified allergist should be sought if: (1) skin test results are at variance with the historical data; or (2) systemic reactions are induced by skin testing; or (3) the patient fails to respond to the therapy dictated by the skin test results. Alternatives or supplements to skin-testing include RAST testing and measurement of histamine release from sensitized leukocytes. These have rendered passive transfer testing (PK or Prausnitz-Küstner) substantially obsolete. Direct allergy skin testing remains the most sensitive, most specific, and most reliable method presently available to the physician for investigation of IgE-mediated allergic disorders.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 759-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shemeena AbdulAzeez ◽  
Ghada Khalil Al Tajir ◽  
Hana Sulieman

Introduction: Skin testing can be a useful diagnostic tool to identify patients who are allergic to penicillin. Procedures for skin testing in the United Arab Emirates have not been standardized. The aim of this study was to examine the current practice of antibiotic skin testing in a tertiary hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methodology: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in Al Qassimi Hospital, in which the medical records of all patients who were prescribed antibiotics over an eight-week period were screened to evaluate patients' history, indication for performing the test, results, and documentation of findings. Results: During the study period 357 patients received parenteral antibiotics, of which 238 had one skin test, 21 had two skin tests, and one patient had four skin tests. Skin testing was performed without regard for patient history. Documentation of both positive and negative results was poor. There was no standard technique for skin testing used within the institution, and significant variations were noted between wards. In most cases the techniques used deviated from recommended procedures in the medical literature. Conclusions: Standardized guidelines for antibiotic skin testing should be established and implemented as soon as possible using recommended international guidelines.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-52
Author(s):  
Akefeh Ahmadiafshar ◽  
Mohammad Vafaee-Shahi ◽  
Saeide Ghasemi ◽  
Fariba Khosroshahi ◽  
Aina Riahi

Background: Headache and particularly migraine headaches are considered as a debilitating disease worldwide that can adversely affect the quality of life of children and adults. Various factors can play a critical role in the development of migraine headache attacks. The food allergens are considered as important factors. This study aimed to determine the frequency of food allergy in children with migraine headaches. Methods: Forty patients aged <16 years with a migraine headache were entered into the study. A questionnaire was provided in which data on demographic information and skin test results for various allergens were recorded. Dietary allergies were defined based on a positive skin test plus a patient's history of food allergies. The severity of migraine was evaluated using the Migraine disability assessment score (MIDAS) questionnaire. Results: The present study showed 32.5% of our participants had a food allergy. No significant association was detected between sex (p=58) and age (p=0.14) with food allergy. However, the frequency of food allergy was significantly higher in patients aged ≥12 years old (44.4%) than those aged <12 (22.7%). A significant relationship was found between the number of attacks after prophylaxis and the frequency of food allergies (p=0.032). Individuals with lower attacks had a lower food allergy. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that about one-third of children with a migraine headache had a food allergy. This frequency was significantly higher in children with migraines than that of the general population based on the results of previous studies. It is recommended that these patients receive a skin allergy test while preparing a strong history of food allergies or when the frequency of migraine attacks does not decrease significantly despite proper prophylaxis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-54
Author(s):  
G. M. Al - Khatib ◽  
Zainab A.A. Al - Haddad ◽  
Sanaria Fawzi Al- Hissen ◽  
Sahar Hassan Al- Kutbi

 This study was conducted to produce a specific antigen for detection L. monocytogenes infection. The antigen was prepared by culturing L. monocytogenes on suitable media and then disrupted by ultrasonicatorwaves.  The water – soluble extract of sonically disrupted Listeria were used for skin testing guinea pigs infected with (1*108 CFU / ml) of a L. monocytogenes. Two infected doses were used for immunization at intervals of (10) days between them.  Two skin tests were done, 10 days and 15 days after the 2nd infected dose. The skin test results were read after 24 & 48 hrs. which showed clear thickening differences and redness at the injection sites after 24 hrs. and become more clear after 48 hrs.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 935-937
Author(s):  
GAIL G. SHAPIRO ◽  
JOHN A. ANDERSON

Ten years ago a commentary appeared in Pediatrics entitled "Allergy Skin Testing: Science or Quackery?"1 This statement was a rejoinder to a commentary in Pediatrics in 19752 that included allergy skin testing in a list of laboratory procedures that are abused for financial gain. The gist of the reply was that allergy skin tests themselves were not the problem because they were valid bioassays for IgE antibody to specific antigens. Abuse and quackery set in when numerous, indiscriminately chosen skin tests were performed instead of an appropriate history, physical examination, and carefully selected tests based on that evaluation. The allergy skin test was at that time and remains today the most sensitive test for specific allergic antibody in the skin, its presence there reflecting its presence in the blood and respiratory tract.


1989 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 967-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
R LOCKEY ◽  
P TURKELTAUB ◽  
C OLIVE ◽  
I BAIRDWARREN ◽  
E OLIVE ◽  
...  

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1959 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1009-1015
Author(s):  
Richard L. London ◽  
Jerome Glaser

A study of 400 allergic patients of all ages, who were skin tested with eggwhite, is reported. The authors agree with those who believe that a positive reaction in infants who have in no known way been exposed to eggwhite after birth is in all probability due to intrauterine sensitization. There is a possibility, however, that some reactions to eggwhite may be due to a primary histamine or serotonin releasing substance present in the eggwhite which has no relationship to antigen-antibody reaction. The circumstances under which this takes place are not known. In all age groups the family history was positive in about 65% of cases. It was surprising to find, in view of previous opinions, that in the youngest age group (infants up to 2 years of age), the skin test was positive in less than half the patients (42%) in the presence of clinical sensitivity. It was also unexpected to find that the number of patients clinically sensitive to eggwhite but giving negative skin tests increased as age advanced. This justifies the common practice of eliminating egg as a trial measure in the diet of the first age group, regardless of the results of skin testing, and suggests that this should be done in any age group where food is considered a possible etiologic factor. In the youngest age group somewhat more than one-third (34%) of the patients reacted positively to eggwhite but were not clinically sensitive. This finding was completely unexpected as it had been thought that in this age group a positive skin test to eggwhite was practically pathognomonic of clinical sensitivity. In this study more positive reactions in children to eggwhite were obtained (70.5%) than in a somewhat comparable series where the incidence was much less (20%). We attribute this to the fact that in our series both scratch and intradermal tests were made while in the other series only scratch tests were done. This reflects the greater sensitivity of the intradermal test. Only about half the patients of all ages who react to eggwhite are also clinically sensitive. Attention is drawn to a theory which explains why a positive cutaneous test to a food, as eggwhite, may be clinically significant in atopic dermatitis even though the test (wheal reaction) does not reproduce the type of dermatitis being studied. There was no definite evidence, because the number of cases studied is far too small, to indicate that the severity of asthma which may ultimately develop in infants not asthmatic at the time of skin testing is proportional to the strength of the initial reaction to eggwhite.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
Camilia Metadea Aji Savitri ◽  
Azwin Mengindra Putera Lubis ◽  
Gatot Soegiarto

Background Food allergy is common in children and its prevalence is generally on the rise. Imprecise parental reports about reactions to particular foods can lead to unnecessary restrictions. Since children have specific growth requirements, such nutritional restrictions may have disturbing effects on children’s growth and development.Objective To compare parental reports on food reactions to skin prick test results in their children.Method Retrospective, cross sectional study using patient’s medical record data during one-year study period. Data were analyzed manually and statistically, to assess the degree of agreement (Kappa’s coefficient) and significance (P).Results We collected data from 154 subjects aged 0-18 years. For every allergen assessed, parents reported more food reactions than positive skin prick test results. Allergy incidence were caused, in order, by cow’s milk and chicken (25.3%), eggs (22.1%), chocolate (20.1%), fruits (14.3%), seafood (13%), and saltwater fish (1.9%). Kappa coefficient are all poor (<0.2) and P value are all >0.05 except for chicken (P=0.02).Conclusion Most parents tend to overestimate which food cause reactions in their children, as reactions reported were not necessarily allergenic. Therefore, every patient experiencing allergy reactions should undergo skin prick testing to confirm the possibility of allergy.


1987 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Badalament ◽  
H W Herr ◽  
G Y Wong ◽  
C Gnecco ◽  
C M Pinsky ◽  
...  

Between August 1981 and July 1984, 93 patients with polychronotopic superficial papillary carcinoma (Ta and/or T1), flat carcinoma in situ (Tis), or concomitant superficial papillary and in situ bladder carcinoma were entered into a prospective randomized trial of maintenance v nonmaintenance intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. Forty-six patients who received BCG weekly for 6 weeks were compared with 47 patients receiving the six-weekly doses of BCG plus monthly BCG for 2 years. Both groups were evaluated every 3 months by cytology, cystoscopy, and biopsy. A significant reduction in the number of recurrent tumors per patient-month was demonstrated for both groups (P less than .0001); however, the difference in reduction of tumors between the two groups was not significant. Additionally, patients receiving maintenance and nonmaintenance therapy had similar tumor recurrence and progression rates. These results indicate that monthly maintenance BCG does not prevent, delay, or reduce tumor recurrence or progression observed with the 6-week regimen. Maintenance BCG was associated with increased local toxicity, primarily dysuria, frequency, and urgency. Dosage reduction was required in 22 of 47 patients (46.8%). When the data were subjected to multivariate analysis, the presence or absence of tumor following induction BCG and PPD skin test results were found to be significant variables. Controlling for either the presence or absence of tumor following induction BCG, tumor recurrence and progression rates were not significantly different for the two treatment groups. However, the absence of tumor after induction BCG was associated with a longer disease-free duration (P = .00001) and time to progression (P = .095). Patients with a reactive tuberculin skin test before and after induction BCG had significantly less tumor recurrences than patients with different PPD skin tests results (P = .02). Tumor progression was not related to tuberculin skin testing.


Doctor Ru ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
G.Z. Tadjieva ◽  
◽  
O.S. Mirzaev ◽  
Kh.N. Shadieva ◽  
◽  
...  

Study Objective: To assess skin test results in patients with some allergies. Design: Perspective comparative study. Materials and Methods. We examined 1,963 patients with allergies who presented to Tadjieva Allergo-Medical Service LLC (Samarkand) in 2018–2019. 895 patients consented to and underwent allergy testing with scarification skin tests; they had various allergies (bronchial asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria). We used 76 types of most common allergens, including 24 plant allergens, 7 domestic allergens, 13 fungal allergens, 3 epidermal allergens, 27 food allergens, histamine and control test. Results. Most common, positive test results were seen with saltwort (42.9%), plantain (39.5%), wormwood (33.7%), pigweed (26.6%), quitch grass (27.3%), cultivated plant mix (corn, rye, barley, oats, wheat) (41.8%), wild grasses (dart grass, scleranthus, bluegrass, ryegrass, brome grass, couch grass, red-tailed fescue grass, foxtail, timothy) (40.4%). In domestic allergens, the highest number of positive test results accounted for Acarus siro (29.1%), Tyrophagus putrescentiae (24.6%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (21.8%), D. farinae (20.9%) mites. Still, the most severe are the diseases caused by hypersensitivity to fungal allergens Аlternaria alternatа (8.7%), Candida (8.9%). Polyvalent sensibilization was recorded in the majority of cases; but it was not a factor of severity and did not correlated with the duration of the disease. Conclusion. The results allow verifying aetiological factors of allergies in each case; later it can be used for targeted molecular diagnosis and allergen-specific immunotherapy. Keywords: allergies, allergen-specific immunotherapy, skin tests, plant, domestic, fungal allergens, polysensitization.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document