title: Anaphylactoid and systemic reactions following saline enema administration. Six case reports.
abstract: This report describes six children with spina bifida who have experienced a total of 13 episodes of generalized hives, angioedema and in two cases, anaphylactoid reactions immediately following saline enema infusions. The enemas were administered using a kit comprised of a plastic bag, tubing, and rectal end-piece. The reactions always occurred with the first use of new kits. A third child developed a systemic reaction with only the rectal end-piece in situ and without infusion of fluid. An in-hospital challenge using a new end-piece in one patient, who was clinically the most sensitive, produced an acute anaphylactoid reaction implicating the end-piece as the most likely source of the problem. The definitive mechanism(s) of the reactions and the agent(s) responsible for them presently remain unknown.
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology*; D000799:Angioedema / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000150:complications; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000628:therapy; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride