MOSQUITO BITE ANAPHYLAXIS - IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH WHOLE-BODY EXTRACTS

Background: Adverse reactions to mosquito bites have been recognized f or some time. These usually consist of large local swellings and redne ss, generalized urticaria, angioedema and less easily definable respon ses such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, and lethargy. Methods: We re port two patients who experienced systemic anaphylaxis from mosquito b ites. Both were skin tested and given immunotherapy using whole body m osquito extracts. Results: Skin testing using whole body mosquito extr acts was positive to Aedes aegypti at 1/1,000 weight/volume (wt/vol) i n one patient and to Aedes aegypti at 1/100,000 wt/vol, and Culex pipi ens at 1/10,000 wt/vol in the other. Skin testing of ten volunteers wi thout a history of adverse reactions to mosquito bites was negative. I mmunotherapy using these extracts resulted in resolution of adverse re actions to mosquito bites in one patient and a decrease in reactions i n the other. Conclusions: Immunotherapy with whole body mosquito extra cts is a viable treatment option that can play a role in patients with mosquito bite-induced anaphylaxis. It may also result in severe side effects and one must determine the benefit versus risks for each indiv idual patient.