17 Matching Annotations
  1. Feb 2020
    1. If referral to a specialist allergy clinic is not needed, advise a trial elimination of all cow's milk from the mother's/infant's diet for 2–4 weeks.

      Trial of elimination of cow's milk only for mild non-IgE mediated

      Latent onset, no urticaria, maybe atopic eczema, constipation

      Two options

      1) Pure breastfeeding - MOTHER needs to eliminate cow's milk

      2) Mixed breastfeeding or formula fed - BABY needs to eliminate cow's milk, use Extensively Hydrolysed Formula (EHF)

      Two week trial

      If improves, keep on EHF for 6 months, then plan for reintroduction according to iMAP ladder with dietician

      https://gpifn.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/imap-presentation-algorithm-1.pdf

      https://gpifn.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/imap-treatment-algorithm.pdf

    1. Immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated food allergy

      Food allergy may be

      • IgE-mediated (resp, skin, face, GI symptoms)
      • Non IgE-mediated

      Cross-reactivity

      • Latex - banana, kiwi, avocado, potato
      • Oral allergy syndrome - pollen, transient localized urticaria and associated tingling, itching, and swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, often with co-morbid allergic rhinitis symptoms

      If there is oral allergy syndrome, need to also treat allergic rhinitis

    1. Secondary care treatment options include plasma-derived C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrates, ecallantide (a kallikrein inhibitor [kallikrein is involved in the production of bradykinin]), icatibant (a bradykinin receptor antagonist), prophylactic doses of C1-INH, and long-term prophylaxis with danazol (an androgen)

      Treatment of HAE and AAE - do not respond to antihistamines

      • plasma-derived C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrates
      • ecallantide (a kallikrein inhibitor [kallikrein is involved in the production of bradykinin]),
      • icatibant (a bradykinin receptor antagonist)
      • prophylactic doses of C1-INH
      • long-term prophylaxis with danazol (an androgen)
    2. Offer a non-sedating antihistamine (such as cetirizine, fexofenadine, or loratadine) for up to 6 weeks (use clinical judgement to determine the duration of treatment). 

      Treatment of angio-oedema

      • Stop ACEI
      • Non-sedating antihistamine 6 weeks (can give up to 4x standard max dose)
      • Short-course of oral corticosteroid if severe
      • Specialist opinion on continuing beta blockers
    3. Angio-oedema is swelling of deep dermis, subcutaneous, or submucosal tissue, often affecting the face (lips, tongue, and eyelids), genitalia, hands, or feet

      angio-oedema = deep tissue swelling face, genitalia, hands, feet, bowel.

      Can be acute or chronic (> 6 weeks)

      Can be:

      • Allergic
      • Idiopathic
      • Hereditary (HAE - eg C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency)
      • Acquired (AAE - C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency - SLE or other CTD)

      Anaphyalxis is life-threatening systemic hypersensitivity. affecting airway, breathing and circulation

    1. Risk factors

      People at increased risk of pneumococcal disease or complications include those with:

      • Asplenia or splenic dysfunction.
      • Chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, or liver disease.
      • Diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs.
      • Immunosuppression due to a medical condition or treatment.
      • Cochlear implants.
      • Cerebrospinal fluid leaks (including leakage following trauma or major skull surgery).
      • Occupational risks (including welders). For more details, see the section on Risk factors.
    1. Clinical risk groups in people aged 6 months and older

      Influenza vaccine for >65s and specific risk groups

      • Asplenia or splenic dysfunction.
      • Chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, or liver disease.
      • Diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs.
      • Immunosuppression due to a medical condition or treatment.
      • Chornic neurological disease
      • Pregnant women
      • Children aged 2 to 10 years (but not aged 11 years or older) on 31 August 2019.
      • People living in long-stay residential and nursing homes or other long-stay care facilities (not including prisons, young offender's institutions, or university halls of residence).
      • Close contacts of immunocompromised people, including carers (people who expect to share living accommodation on most days over the winter).
      • All healthcare and social care workers directly involved in patient care, including students, trainees, and volunteers working with patients.
    1. Aminosalicylates — mesalazine and sulfasalazine may be considered for a mild-to-moderate first presentation

      They are often prescribed topically (suppository or enema) initially, and orally if remission is not achieved within four weeks. For extensive disease, topical and high-dose oral treatment may be offered first-line.

      Corticosteroids — monotherapy with a time-limited course of corticosteroids may be used for induction of remission

      Calcineurin inhibitors — tacrolimus or ciclosporin may be added to oral corticosteroids to induce remission in people with mild to moderate disease if there is an inadequate response to oral corticosteroids after 2–4 weeks.

      Immunosuppressive drugs — the thiopurines (azathioprine, mercaptopurine) or methotrexate (second-line) may be considered to maintain remission if there are two or more inflammatory exacerbations in a 12-month period that require treatment with oral corticosteroids, or if remission cannot be maintained by aminosalicylates.

      Biologic therapy — the anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha monoclonal antibody agents intravenous infliximab and subcutaneous adalimumab and golimumab are effective at inducing remission in people with severe active disease which has not responded to conventional therapy, or where conventional therapy is not tolerated. These drugs are also effective at maintaining remission.

      • Appendicectomy and smoking protect from UC.
      • NSAIDs worsen UC.
      • UC 2.4x greater risk of bowel cancer - needs screening colonoscopy 10 years after diagnosis
      • In a flare-up, use Tuelove and Witt criteria to exclude acute severe colitis (6-8 episodes of bloody diarrhoea + SIRS + raised ESR)
      • Severe flare-ups need emergency hospital admission, non-severe flare-ups need specialist review within 5 days