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Background: Severe systemic reactions (SRs) to insect ven-om are rare in childhood and there are few data on this study population. The aim of our study is to analyze the clinical fea-tures and to document the risk factors for severe SRs in chil-dren with insect venom allergy. Methods: Children with SRs after Hymenoptera sting were analyzed. The diagnosis was based on medical history, skin tests and/or specific IgE test-ing. Results: Seventy-six children were included [57 boys (75%), mean age 9.8 ± 3.4 years]. The mean age of children atthe time of SR was 8.3 ± 3.4 years. Reactions were account-ed for Vespula (wasp) venom in 58 (76%) and Apis mellifera (bee) venom in 18 (24%) patients. Twenty-six percent of pa-tients had aeroallergen sensitization and 33% had atopic dis-ease, whereas 66% had experienced previous stings. The up-per limb was the most frequent area of sting (43%), and the cutaneous system (99%) was the most frequent involved sys-tem. SRs occurred in 59% of patients. Multivariate logistic re-gression analysis revealed eosinophilia (>5%) [odds ratio (OR) 12.6; confidence interval (CI) 1.5-109.7; p = 0.022], female sex (OR 6.4; CI 1.5-26.9; p = 0.011) and accompanying atopic dis-ease (OR 3.4; CI 1.2-12.3; p = 0.016) as significant risk factors for severe SRs. Ninety-seven percent of patients were admit-ted to the emergency department; however, epinephrine was used in only 46% of patients. Conclusions: There was a high frequency of hypersensitivity to wasp venom among the study population, and severe reactions were related to mild eosinophilia, female sex and concomitant atopic diseas-es. A better understanding of the risk factors may lead to ef-fective utilization of health care sources in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The consumption of lentil is common in the Mediterranean area and is one of the causes of IgE‐mediated food allergy in many countries. Len c 1 is a well‐defined allergen of lentil and approximately 80% of the patients with lentil allergy recognize the purified Len c 1 protein. We sought to identify IgE and IgG4 sequential epitopes of Len c 1 in patients with red and/or green lentil allergy. We also aimed to determine IgE and IgG4 binding differences between those patients who had outgrown or remained reactive to lentil. Methods: Children with IgE‐mediated lentil allergy were included in the study. We applied a microarray immunoassay to determine the characterization of positive IgE and IgG4 binding to Len c 1 epitopes in the patients' sera. Results: The peptides specifically recognized by IgE and IgG4 antibodies were mainly detected between peptides 107 and 135 of Len c 1. The signal intensities of positive epitopes were significantly greater in reactive patients than tolerant ones (P =.008 for IgE and P =.002 for IgG4). Moreover, IgE and IgG4 antibodies bound largely the same sequential epitopes in patients who remained reactive or outgrew their allergy. Conclusion: IgG4‐binding epitopes in lentil allergy were identified and IgE and IgG4 binding to epitopes in both red and green lentils was compared. Our data regarding signal intensity differences between reactive and outgrown patients and overlap binding of IgE and IgG4 antibodies may be important for the development of more accurate diagnostic tests and understanding of natural tolerance development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen plays an important role in the development and exacerbation of allergic diseases. We aimed to investigate the days with highest counts of the most allergenic pollens and to identify the meteorological factors affecting pollen counts in the atmosphere of Ankara, Turkey. Airborne pollen measurements were carried out from 2005 to 2008 with a Burkard volumetric 7-day spore trap. Microscope counts were converted into atmospheric concentrations and expressed as pollen grains/m. Meteorological parameters were obtained from the State Meteorological Service. All statistical analyses were done with pollen counts obtained from March to October for each year. The percentages of tree, grass and weed pollens were 72.1% ( n = 24,923), 12.8% ( n = 4,433) and 15.1% ( n = 5,219), respectively. The Pinaceae family from tree taxa (39% to 57%) and the Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae family from weed taxa, contributed the highest percentage of pollen (25% to 43%), while from the grass taxa, only the Poaceae family was detected from 2005 to 2008. Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae families, which are the most allergenic pollens, were found in high numbers from May to August in Ankara. In multiple logistic regression analysis, wind speed (OR = 1.18, CI95% = 1.02-1.36, P = 0.023) for tree pollen, daily mean temperature (OR = 1.10, CI95% = 1.04-1.17, P = 0.001) and sunshine hours (OR = 1.15, CI95% = 1.01-1.30, P = 0.033) for grass pollen, and sunshine hours (OR = 3.79, CI95% = 1.03-13.92, P = 0.044) for weed pollen were found as significant risk factors for high pollen count. The pollen calendar and its association with meteorological factors depend mainly on daily temperature, sunshine hours and wind speed, which may help draw the attention of physicians and allergic patients to days with high pollen counts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]