title: Evaluation of the quality of life in subjects with a history of severe anaphylactic reaction to the Hymenoptera venom.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensitization to the Hymenoptera venom is one of the main causes of anaphylaxis in Poland. Venom immunotherapy is the only effective treatment in such cases. Comprehensive patient care includes also education. The aim of our study was to assess the state of knowledge and to evaluate the quality of life and the anxiety level in patients allergic to the Hymenoptera venom after anaphylactic reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was carried out in the period of the insects flight in 61 adult subjects (35 wasp and 26 bee allergic), using a validated Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire (VQLQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and subjective assessment of anxiety level. The majority of respondents received venom immunotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitized to the wasp venom had significantly impaired quality of life (VQLQ score) as compared to the bee venom allergic (p = 0.014). The intensity of anxiety decreased with the duration of immunotherapy (p = 0.01). The majority of subjects knew how to recognize and treat anaphylaxis, but only 8% employed an identification card and about 50% implemented rules of the pre-exposition prophylaxis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  History of a severe anaphylaxis to the Hymenoptera venom affected the quality of life. Venom immunotherapy reduced anxiety. We hope that presented surveys and their results might be useful in qualifying for immunotherapy in clinically uncertain cases.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Krakow, Poland. napr@interia.eu.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Stanisława
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bazan-Socha
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulka
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pełka
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Latra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001514:Bee Venoms; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014862:Wasp Venoms
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms
keywords: Hymenoptera; VQLQ; anaphylaxis; quality of life; venom immunotherapy