Anaphylaxis to povidone in a child.

Povidone is an allergic agent present in numerous substances, food and medicines. The authors present the clinical case of a 9-yr-old male child admitted in the emergency room with anaphylaxis, in two occasions separated by a 6-month period. The first episode occurred 5 min after the first oral administration of Fluvermal (flubendazole) and the second occurred 10 min after cutaneous application of Betadine (povidone iodine solution). Previous cutaneous application of this solution and ingestion of mebendazole occurred without apparent adverse reactions. The allergy study revealed eosinophilia, an elevated total IgE level and positive prick-by-prick test for both drugs. A cutaneous prick-by-prick test with povidone (the sole common constituent) was also positive. This is probably the first case described in the literature of anaphylaxis induced by povidone in a child.