2016 Volume 30 Issue 4 Pages 567-573
Purpose : To investigate ownership of adrenaline autoinjectors (Epipen®) among children and management of food-induced anaphylaxis (FA) in nurseries. Subjects and Methods : A questionnaire regarding the management of children with FA was distributed to all licensed nurseries in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, and responses were received from 253 (95.8%). The data of 237 nurseries (89.8%), in which the instruction written by physician was required for elimination diet, were analyzed. Results : The rate of children with FA was 6.1%, and 98.7% of the nurseries had children with FA. Among the children with FA, 161 (10%) had experienced suspected anaphylaxis, and 39 owned an Epipen® (24.2%). Among suspected anaphylactic children weighing 15 kg or more, only 27 of 85 children (31.8%) owned an Epipen®. Thirty-two nurseries had children owning an Epipen®, among which 28 nurseries (87.5%) were ready to use it in an emergency. Sixty-one (25.7%) of all responding nurseries experienced allergic reactions on-site during the previous year. Conclusion : More than 80% of nurseries with children owning an Epipen® were ready to use it. However, the ownership rate of Epipen® was low, with only about 30% of anaphylactic children owning an Epipen®, suggesting that not enough children who may require it are being prescribed an Epipen®.
