title: Hymenoptera Venom Allergy. A closer collaboration is needed between allergists and emergency physicians.
abstract: Background.Hymenoptera stings are sometimes fatal in venom-allergic patients. Fatalities mostly occur in previously stung subjects, especially those with a history of systemic reactions, and could be avoided if patients were properly informed of the existence of a prevention strategy for insect stings, referred to an allergy follow-up and prescribed auto-injectable epinephrine and/or venom-specific immunotherapy (VIT). We sought to assess knowledge and awareness of Hymenoptera Venom Allergy (HVA) in a small sample of Emergency Physicians in our geographic area.Methods.An eight-point questionnaire on HVA was administered to Emergency Department physicians working in the six largest ED in Naples.Results.Twenty-seven physicians completed the questionnaire. Twenty/27 (74%) were unaware of the classification of Hymenoptera sting reactions, 11/27 (41%) were unaware of the existence of prevention strategies such as VIT, 18/27 (67%) did not refer HVA patients to a specialist follow up. One/27 (4%) prescribed auto-injectable epinephrine and 100% wish better information on the topic.Conclusions.In our survey we found a number of ED physicians whose knowledge of HVA, beyond the emergency treatment, is not satisfactory. A closer collaboration among ED physicians and allergists is urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Loreto Crispi Hospital, ASL Napoli 1 - Centro, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Loreto Crispi Hospital, ASL Napoli 1 - Centro, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Loreto Crispi Hospital, ASL Napoli 1 - Centro, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imperatore
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Loreto Crispi Hospital, ASL Napoli 1 - Centro, Naples, Italy. E-mail: guglielmoscala@gmail.com.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scala
mesh_terms: D000072223:Allergists; D000818:Animals; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000276:immunology*; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D010820:Physicians
chemical_list: D001180:Arthropod Venoms
keywords: anaphylaxis; emergency; hymenoptera venom allergy; prevention; specific immunotherapy