<p>Fatal anaphylaxis is a very rare, unpredictable tragedy. For children and young people, most fatal anaphylaxis is caused by food allergy, and thus, carers of children and young people with food allergy may become preoccupied about the possibility of sudden, unexpected fatal anaphylaxis. Other unexpected causes of death such as severe acute asthma are less rare than fatal anaphylaxis, but the rapidity of fatal food anaphylaxis and its propensity to affect adolescents and young adults generate continued concern and societal interest.</p><p>The burden of avoiding known food allergens falls largely on people living with allergies and their families. Thus, an exposure leading to a fatal anaphylactic reaction may inspire fear and guilt in families and also in other carers, caterers and health professionals. Most anaphylactic reactions to food self-revert, with or without medical intervention [<span>1</span>]. In the past 30 years, several society-wide changes have been made to try to prevent fatal food anaphylaxis. In many countries such as the UK, these include widespread provision of adrenaline autoinjectors, new food allergen labelling laws, increased food allergy diagnostics and improved emergency service awareness of anaphylaxis and its management [<span>2, 3</span>]. Yet, fatal food anaphylaxis remains as common as it was 30 years ago, suggesting we need to go back a step and learn more about the condition [<span>4</span>]. Fatal food anaphylaxis is difficult to study prospectively, because it is very rare, unpredictable and usually occurs in the community. It is therefore important that we learn as much as we can from each tragic occurrence, and the recent statutory review of childhood fatal anaphylaxis and asthma provides an opportunity to do this (Figure 1, Table 1).</p><p>England is one of very few countries with a national, statutory, multi-professional review of all child deaths [<span>5</span>]. Since 2019, the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) collates and analyses information about child deaths. For all deaths under age 18, a comprehensive summary of the circumstances of death and background information from professionals is collated. A final record summarises conclusions of a multi-agency panel documenting contributory, modifiable factors and learning. The latest NCMD thematic report analysed child deaths in England because of asthma or anaphylaxis. It identified key findings and made recommendations for policy, practice and research [<span>6</span>].</p><p>The report documents 54 child deaths from asthma and 19 from anaphylaxis in a 4-year period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2023. Many (54%) of the children who died from asthma also had a food allergy. However, the cause of death in these cases was thought to be asthma rather than food anaphylaxis. Fatal anaphylaxis was triggered by food allergy (<i>n</i> = 18) and in one case by anaesthesia, a rare cause of fatal anaphylaxis in childhood [<span>7</span>]. Just over half of
{"title":"Fatal Food Anaphylaxis in Children: A Statutory Review in England","authors":"Sylvia Stoianova, Vibha Sharma, Robert J. Boyle","doi":"10.1111/cea.14614","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cea.14614","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fatal anaphylaxis is a very rare, unpredictable tragedy. For children and young people, most fatal anaphylaxis is caused by food allergy, and thus, carers of children and young people with food allergy may become preoccupied about the possibility of sudden, unexpected fatal anaphylaxis. Other unexpected causes of death such as severe acute asthma are less rare than fatal anaphylaxis, but the rapidity of fatal food anaphylaxis and its propensity to affect adolescents and young adults generate continued concern and societal interest.</p><p>The burden of avoiding known food allergens falls largely on people living with allergies and their families. Thus, an exposure leading to a fatal anaphylactic reaction may inspire fear and guilt in families and also in other carers, caterers and health professionals. Most anaphylactic reactions to food self-revert, with or without medical intervention [<span>1</span>]. In the past 30 years, several society-wide changes have been made to try to prevent fatal food anaphylaxis. In many countries such as the UK, these include widespread provision of adrenaline autoinjectors, new food allergen labelling laws, increased food allergy diagnostics and improved emergency service awareness of anaphylaxis and its management [<span>2, 3</span>]. Yet, fatal food anaphylaxis remains as common as it was 30 years ago, suggesting we need to go back a step and learn more about the condition [<span>4</span>]. Fatal food anaphylaxis is difficult to study prospectively, because it is very rare, unpredictable and usually occurs in the community. It is therefore important that we learn as much as we can from each tragic occurrence, and the recent statutory review of childhood fatal anaphylaxis and asthma provides an opportunity to do this (Figure 1, Table 1).</p><p>England is one of very few countries with a national, statutory, multi-professional review of all child deaths [<span>5</span>]. Since 2019, the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) collates and analyses information about child deaths. For all deaths under age 18, a comprehensive summary of the circumstances of death and background information from professionals is collated. A final record summarises conclusions of a multi-agency panel documenting contributory, modifiable factors and learning. The latest NCMD thematic report analysed child deaths in England because of asthma or anaphylaxis. It identified key findings and made recommendations for policy, practice and research [<span>6</span>].</p><p>The report documents 54 child deaths from asthma and 19 from anaphylaxis in a 4-year period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2023. Many (54%) of the children who died from asthma also had a food allergy. However, the cause of death in these cases was thought to be asthma rather than food anaphylaxis. Fatal anaphylaxis was triggered by food allergy (<i>n</i> = 18) and in one case by anaesthesia, a rare cause of fatal anaphylaxis in childhood [<span>7</span>]. Just over half of ","PeriodicalId":10207,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Allergy","volume":"55 1","pages":"4-7"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cea.14614","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142945710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<p>In this month's editorial, the Editors of the journal have highlighted two fascinating studies that are included in this issue. The first article provides evidence that miR-107 is involved in the allergic response to house dust mites (HDM) in children with asthma [<span>1</span>]. Allergic asthma (AA) is a prevalent phenotype of asthma that presents atopic sensitisations in asthma patients exposed to allergens [<span>2, 3</span>]. Some, but not all, studies have suggested a possible increase in AA over time [<span>4</span>]. HDM are a significant trigger for AA in many regions, with HDM sensitisation potentially leading to severe, and in some instances, life-threatening asthma symptoms. In the study by Kim et al. [<span>1</span>], the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs) and HDM sensitisation in children with asthma was investigated. The researchers examined serum samples from 1126 children in the Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) and also replicated their findings in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP). Initially, the study revealed that 17 miRNAs were differentially expressed between HDM-sensitised and non-sensitised children in the GACRS group. Of the 17, miR-642a, let-7c-5p and miR-107 showed the strongest association with HDM sensitisation. Moreover, the CAMP cohort successfully replicated the elevated expression of miR-107 in HDM-sensitised children. Additional mediation analysis also presented significant effects of miR-107 on eosinophil count and total IgE after HDM sensitisation. These findings suggest new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying HDM sensitisation in paediatric asthma and emphasise the potential of miRNAs, particularly, miR-107, which can be studied further for application as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for AA (Figure 1).</p><p>This issue's second editor's choice article reports on the optimisation of the basophil activation assay for identifying IgE-mediated drug allergies [<span>5</span>]. Diagnosing drug allergies is a complex and nuanced process that presents several challenges. Allergic reactions can manifest with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms, ranging from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis, making it difficult to establish consistent diagnostic criteria. Reactions may occur immediately or be delayed, sometimes appearing days after exposure [<span>6</span>]. This variability complicates the temporal connection between drug intake and allergic symptoms. Additionally, patients may experience allergic reactions to drug molecules with similar structures, further complicating the identification of the exact trigger, especially in cases involving structurally similar drugs. Unlike testing for environmental allergens, there are limited standardised and clinically validated laboratory tests available for many drug allergies. The reliability and availability of tests like the Basophil Activation Test (BAT) can vary for different drugs [<span>7, 8</span>]. While o
{"title":"Role of MicroRNAs in Allergy and Basophil Activation Test for IgE-Mediated Drug Allergy","authors":"Mohamed H. Shamji, Robert J. Boyle","doi":"10.1111/cea.14616","DOIUrl":"10.1111/cea.14616","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In this month's editorial, the Editors of the journal have highlighted two fascinating studies that are included in this issue. The first article provides evidence that miR-107 is involved in the allergic response to house dust mites (HDM) in children with asthma [<span>1</span>]. Allergic asthma (AA) is a prevalent phenotype of asthma that presents atopic sensitisations in asthma patients exposed to allergens [<span>2, 3</span>]. Some, but not all, studies have suggested a possible increase in AA over time [<span>4</span>]. HDM are a significant trigger for AA in many regions, with HDM sensitisation potentially leading to severe, and in some instances, life-threatening asthma symptoms. In the study by Kim et al. [<span>1</span>], the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs) and HDM sensitisation in children with asthma was investigated. The researchers examined serum samples from 1126 children in the Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) and also replicated their findings in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP). Initially, the study revealed that 17 miRNAs were differentially expressed between HDM-sensitised and non-sensitised children in the GACRS group. Of the 17, miR-642a, let-7c-5p and miR-107 showed the strongest association with HDM sensitisation. Moreover, the CAMP cohort successfully replicated the elevated expression of miR-107 in HDM-sensitised children. Additional mediation analysis also presented significant effects of miR-107 on eosinophil count and total IgE after HDM sensitisation. These findings suggest new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying HDM sensitisation in paediatric asthma and emphasise the potential of miRNAs, particularly, miR-107, which can be studied further for application as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for AA (Figure 1).</p><p>This issue's second editor's choice article reports on the optimisation of the basophil activation assay for identifying IgE-mediated drug allergies [<span>5</span>]. Diagnosing drug allergies is a complex and nuanced process that presents several challenges. Allergic reactions can manifest with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms, ranging from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis, making it difficult to establish consistent diagnostic criteria. Reactions may occur immediately or be delayed, sometimes appearing days after exposure [<span>6</span>]. This variability complicates the temporal connection between drug intake and allergic symptoms. Additionally, patients may experience allergic reactions to drug molecules with similar structures, further complicating the identification of the exact trigger, especially in cases involving structurally similar drugs. Unlike testing for environmental allergens, there are limited standardised and clinically validated laboratory tests available for many drug allergies. The reliability and availability of tests like the Basophil Activation Test (BAT) can vary for different drugs [<span>7, 8</span>]. While o","PeriodicalId":10207,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Allergy","volume":"55 1","pages":"11-13"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cea.14616","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142944912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shican Zhou, Ju Lai, Na Che, Kai Fan, Chuanliang Zhao, Bojin Long, Chunyan Yao, Yu Zeng, Shaoqing Yu
The cover image is based on the article Emerging Role of SAMSN1+Mast Cells: Insights From Mendelian Randomisation and Transcriptomic Analyses on Chronic Sinusitis and Obesity by Shaoqing Yu et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.14529.