title: [Influence of venom immunotherapy on anxiety level of being re-stung].
abstract: Hymenoptera venom allergy is related to higher risk of potential life -threatening anaphylactic reactions, which leads to anxiety and decreased quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was: 1) estimation of fear level of being re-stung among venom allergy adults treated with venom specific immunotherapy (VIT)--before and during treatment; 2) estimation of expectation of outcome of VIT as compared to level of anxiety of being re-strug, in the Visual Analogue Scale--VAS score; 3) identification of factors influencing changes in the fear level among patients during VIT.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 42 patients (18 women, 24 men) in the mean age 42.6 years, with bee or vespid allergy, who had been qualified to the VIT treatment with Alutard SQ. Visual Analogue Scale--VAS and the Expectation of Outcome Questionnaire were used. The demographic data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VAS score before VIT for insect venom allergic patients was 8.8 (SD = 0.9). It decreased after achieving maintenance dose to 3.1 (SD = 1.6) and was significantly lower in men (p < 0.05). Score achieved in the Expectation of Outcome Questionnaire was for each question 2.2 (SD = 1.5) and there was correlation with VAS score during VIT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with insect venom allergy, who undergo a serious allergic reaction (SR) as a result of being stung and who are qualified to VIT, have a high level of anxiety of being re-stung. Achieving the maintenance dose of VIT, results in a significant decrease of anxiety level in women and men, significantly so in men. There is a significant correlation between VAS score and the Expectation of Outcome Questionnaire results during VIT. Both VAS for anxiety level and the Expectation of Outcome Questionnaire can be simple, easily available and useful instruments helping to estimate quality of life. VIT significantly decreases the patients level of anxiety of being restung and improves their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Szpital Uniwersytecki w Krakowie, Oddział Kliniczny Klinik Chorób, Wewnetrznych, Poradnia Alergologiczna.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sacha
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Czarnobilska
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stobiecki
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dyga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms