Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Mar 1999
ReviewNational guidelines needed to manage rhinitis and prevent complications.
Rhinitis is an extremely common disease worldwide and nasal allergies are one of the major causes of the condition. Allergic rhinitis not only produces a range of nasal and non-nasal symptoms, but it has been closely associated with other chronic airways diseases, such as asthma and sinusitis. This review was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of allergic rhinitis to these diseases and to provide support for proposing national guidelines for managing rhinitis. ⋯ The prevalence of allergic rhinitis, asthma, and sinusitis are increasing. Asthma and sinusitis can be debilitating conditions. Asthma alone can be life threatening and costly to treat. The timely and optimal treatment of allergic rhinitis may help prevent these conditions or, at least, prevent them from worsening. Consequently, there is an immediate need to establish national, evidence-based, practice guidelines to assist primary care physicians in diagnosing and managing rhinitis and in evaluating and managing rhinitis and in evaluating and managing allergic rhinitis coexisting with other airways diseases.
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This article reviews the literature on the effects of leukotrienes in asthma. In particular, the ability of recently developed receptor antagonists and synthesis inhibitors to attenuate the asthma-causing effects of leukotrienes is examined. ⋯ The antileukotriene drugs attenuated the responses to inhaled leukotrienes and allergen challenges. These agents produced beneficial effects in cold-, exercise-, and aspirin-induced asthma, as well as clinical asthma. Many of these medications appear to be effective in the treatment of asthma; however, further clinical research is needed to determine which patients would benefit most from their use.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Sep 1995
Editorial Comment ReviewSalmeterol for the treatment of asthma.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Feb 1995
ReviewRisk of administering cephalosporin antibiotics to patients with histories of penicillin allergy.
The purpose of this review was to analyze available relevant data regarding the safety of administering cephalosporins to penicillin-allergic patients, including the significance of penicillin skin test reactions and any difference related to first, second, or third generation cephalosporins. ⋯ These data indicate that it is safe to administer cephalosporin antibiotics to penicillin-allergic patients and penicillin skin tests do not identify potential reactors.
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Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. · Jan 1995
Review Case ReportsMosquito bite anaphylaxis: immunotherapy with whole body extracts.
Adverse reactions to mosquito bites have been recognized for some time. These usually consist of large local swellings and redness, generalized urticaria, angioedema and less easily definable responses such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, and lethargy. ⋯ Immunotherapy with whole body mosquito extracts 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 individual patient.