Hymenoptera venom allergy: characteristics, tolerance and efficacy of immunotherapy in the paediatric population.

Hymenoptera venom allergy is a growing problem in Spain. This problem has a special relevance in areas where population is frequently exposed to hymenoptera stings, being paediatric patients a high risk population. Immunotherapy with hymenoptera venom is an effective and safe treatment for these patients. However, there is a lack of data on the role of this treatment on paediatric population. For this reason, from the data base of the Allergy Unit from Hospital Xeral (Lugo, Spain) which includes 560 patients, have been analyzed the 21 paediatric patients, all of them treated with venom immunotherapy. Eighteen patients completed the treatment. The maintenance dose administered was 100 microg. Two systemic reactions (both with an Apis extract) were registered. Cutaneous test and specific IgE shown a statistical significant reduction at the end of treatment (p =.0004 and p <.0001 respectively). Seven patients (33 %) suffered a spontaneous re-stung during maintenance phase or after immunotherapy was completed. In 4 patients there was no allergic reaction and the other 3 children suffered a mild local reaction. In conclusion, venom immunotherapy is a safe and effective treatment in paediatric patients with hymenoptera venom allergy, being necessary to increase the experience on this specific segment of the allergic population.