INSECT STING ALLERGY - COMPARISON OF CHIL DREN TREATED AND UNTREATED WITH VENOM IMMUNOTHERAPY - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY FROM 1974 TO 1993

We studied 175 of 224 venom allergic children, 2 through 18 years of a ge. Children > 6 years had a higher risk for severe systemic reaction (SSR) graded from 3 - 4 according to Mueller than younger children. Th ere is a higher risk for SSR. too, when biting at the upper limb. Chil dren with asthma had a higher risk for dyspnea. Sex and kind of insect are no risk factors for SSR. Fifteen of 64 (23%) children of the untr eated group had SSR after subsequent insect stings. Initial strider wa s followed by dyspnea at re-sting reaction in 3 of this 15 cases. Larg e local reactions at index sting was never associated with SSR at subs equent sting.