Citation

Schuberth KC, Lichtenstein LM, Kagey-Sobotka A, Szklo M, Kwiterovich KA, Valentine MD. J. Pediatr. 1983; 102(3): 361-365.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

6827407

Abstract

One hundred eighty-one children with non-life-threatening reactions to insect stings and positive venom skin tests were randomized to treatment (53) or no-treatment (128) groups and followed up clinically and immunologically for at least two years to assess the results of accidental stings. Twenty-eight stings in 17 treated patients and 74 stings in 47 untreated children occurred, leading to one mild reaction in a treated patient, and eight in the no-treatment group (P = NS). No reaction was more serious than the original. Based on IgE antibody changes and skin test results, 87% of the untreated children were stung by an insect to which they had clinical sensitivity by skin test. Vespid skin test sensitivity decreased 10-fold or more in both treated (72%) and untreated (44%) children. Of those with increased sensitivity, congruent to 70% had been stung. These data indicate that the incidence of severe reactions on resting is low in insect-allergic children, and that the majority show decreased skin test sensitivity over time.

Language: en