title: Anaphylaxis in a 4-year-old male caused by contact with grasses: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute urticaria is the presence of urticaria for <6 weeks, and it is the most common type of urticaria in children. Sometimes, it may be associated with anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. Urticaria must be differentiated from anaphylaxis because the latter may require emergency treatment. We describe a child with anaphylaxis exposed to grasses on two occasions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We described a 4-year-old male child with anaphylaxis exposed to grasses. Patient also suffered mild neurologic/respiratory symptoms but it is unlikely that he had anaphylaxis. Skin-prick tests were positive toCynodon dactylis, Phalaris arundinacea and Festuca elatior. Little is known about the importance of pollens as a cause of urticaria in young children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The case reported here is particularly interesting because, to the best of our knowledge, anaphylaxis due to pollen exposure in children aged <4 years has not been reported before. We strongly encourage all physicians searching for the cause of acute urticaria (allergists, dermatologists, primary-care physicians) to consider the possibility of pollen allergy, and to screen these patients for pollen sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Alergia e Inmunologia del Sur., Bahia Blanca, Argentina ; Hospital Italiano Regional del Sur., Allergy Section, Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Germán Darío
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ramón
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, School of Medicine, Samborondón, Ecuador ; Respiralab, Respiralab Research Group, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chérrez Ojeda
keywords: Anaphylaxis; Emergency Department; Grasses; Sensitization; Urticaria