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. 2021 Feb;38(2):63-68.
doi: 10.5114/ada.2021.104280. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Knowledge gaps of drug allergy in children: a survey of primary care doctors

Neringa Stirbiene  1 , Odilija Rudzeviciene  1 , Monika Kapitancuke  2 , Neringa Nazarenkaite  2 , Arunas Valiulis  1
Affiliations

Knowledge gaps of drug allergy in children: a survey of primary care doctors

Neringa Stirbiene et al. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: There is still lack of knowledge of drug allergy in children. Proper knowledge and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions is important to physicians.

Aim: To evaluate the approach of primary care doctors regarding drug allergy in children.

Material and methods: A total of 195 primary care doctors were questioned in various parts of Lithuania from 2015 to 2016. An original questionnaire was used. The incidence of a suspected drug allergy, culprit drugs, the clinical pattern and management of the suspected drug hypersensitivity were analysed.

Results: The majority of primary care doctors (74.4%) reported a suspected drug allergy. The main suspected drugs were antibiotics (95.2%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (32.4%). Skin symptoms (skin rash (100%) and itching (82.1%)) were the main symptoms of the suspected drug allergy. The vast majority of doctors (93.8%) withdrew the use of a suspected drug and 68.3% of respondents prescribed an alternative drug. The fact that skin tests, blood tests and provocation tests could be used in a drug allergy workup were indicated by 43.6% of doctors. Most doctors (69.2%) knew about the opportunity to test children for drug allergy in Lithuania and 41.4% of doctors referred patients for the further drug allergy workup.

Conclusions: The majority of primary care doctors reported a suspected drug allergy in children. The most common suspected drugs were antibiotics and skin symptoms were the main symptoms. Most doctors knew about the possibility to test for the drug allergy but only less than half of them referred patients for the drug allergy workup.

Keywords: allergy; child; drug hypersensitivity; knowledge; primary care.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Suspected culprit drugs reported by primary care doctors (n = 145)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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