Epipens reduce anxiety in the nut allergic

Monday, 09 August 2010 13:42

Results of a quality of life survey of children with nut allergy and their mothers indicate prescription of epinephrine auto-injectors lowers the anxiety levels in both mother and child, regardless of whether the child actually carries the medication. The results also showed that prescription of an auto-injector was not associated with improved adherence with medical management or reduced risk-taking behaviour by the nut-allergic children.

Children with nut allergy were found to have poorer emotional, social, and psychological quality of life compared to healthy counterparts. Interestingly, both maternal and child quality of life and anxiety were not influenced by the severity of previous reactions, nor whether the child strictly avoided traces of nuts in foods.

Forty-one nut allergic children (age 6–16yrs) and their mothers took part in the study in which standardised questionnaires were used to measure of quality of life, anxiety and stress. Information about the study population’s demographics, previous reactions, management plans, and test results was also collected.

Reference: Cummings et al. 2010. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. Vol 21 (4p1). pp. 586-594.