title: Results of drug hypersensitivity evaluations in a large group of children and adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proven IgE or T-cell mediated drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) seem less common in children compared with adults. However, this has never been proved by data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine and compare proven DHR prevalence in children and adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the DAHD (Drug Allergy and Hypersensitivity Database) cohort, children with proven DHRs were compared with adults. The international EAACI-ENDA recommendations were followed. Patients were divided into four groups: index reaction and test during childhood (C/C), index reaction at childhood and test at adulthood (C/A), index reactions at childhood and adulthood and test at adulthood (CA/A), index reaction and test at adulthood (A/A).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3275 patients (67.9% female), comprising a total of 4370 patient-episodes, were evaluated (74.5% belonged to the A/A group). Prevalence of positive tests was 15.2% (95%CI, 14.1-16.2) for all tested classes, 10.6% (8.3-13.0) for C/C, 10.6% (7.5-13.6) for C/A, 22.1% (12.8-31.3) for CA/A and 16.5% (15.2-17.8) for A/A. The prevalence was lower in group C/C compared with groups A/A (P < 0.0001) and CA/A (P = 0.003). It was also lower in group C/A compared with the two latter groups (respectively P = 0.003 and P = 0.005). Significant differences were found for maculopapular exanthemas only, and not for urticaria/angiœdema and anaphylaxis. The difference was mainly observed with β-lactams and not for NSAIDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suspicions of DHRs are less likely to be confirmed in children.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department and INSERM U657, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: P-J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Demoly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000799:Angioedema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal