Retrospective evaluation of pediatric anaphylaxis cases according to WAO and NIAID/FAAN/EAACI criteria: A single center experience

Background

Anaphylaxis is an emergency that must be correctly recognized and treated by every health care professional. With the update of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) criteria in 2020, differences between the European Academy of Allergy and Immunology (EAACI)/The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and WAO criteria have come to the fore.

Objective

The aim of our study is to compare the effectiveness of these 2 criteria in diagnosing anaphylaxis in pediatric patients.

Methods

Patients aged 0–18 years who applied to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Clinic between September 1, 2020 and September 1, 2023 due to systemic allergic reaction and were diagnosed with anaphylaxis were evaluated retrospectively. The clinical findings of the patients were re-evaluated accordingto WAO 2020 and NIAID/FAAN/EAACI criteria.

Results

Included in the study were 492 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 3.8 years (IQR: 0.9–11.4). The majority of patients were male (59.6%). There were 466 patients (94.1%) diagnosed with anaphylaxis according to both NIAID/FAAN/EAACI and WAO criteria. Three patients (0.6%) with isolated laryngeal involvement and 23 (4.7%) patients with isolated respiratory findings (bronchospasm) were diagnosed only according to WAO Criterion 2, for a total of 26 patients (5.3%).

Conclusion

Although the majority of patients were diagnosed with both criteria, 5.3% were diagnosed only according to the WAO criteria. After contact with a suspected or known allergen, the presence of isolated respiratory or laryngeal findings without skin findings should be a warning before anaphylaxis progresses to more serious stages.