Kazuo Itahashi

Management of neonatal cow’s milk allergy in high-risk neonates

Background:  We conducted a multicenter clinical survey to clarify the current attitudes to diagnosis or treatment of neonatal milk allergy (NMA) in institutions providing medical care for high‐risk neonates in Japan.

Low-dose doxapram therapy for idiopathic apnea of prematurity

Abstract Background : Doxapram is contraindicated for newborn infants in Japan because of its serious side effects. However, because of encouraging results of recent studies regarding the efficacy and safety of therapy for apnea of prematurity (AOP) with lower doses of doxapram than those previously proposed, approximately 60% of Japanese neonatologists continue to use doxapram at small doses. Caution is warranted because the sample sizes of the former studies are inadequate to evaluate doxapram for both its beneficial and harmful effects. Therefore, we conducted the present study in order to investigate the efficacy and harmful events of low‐dose doxapram therapy for idiopathic AOP in very low‐birth weight (VLBW) infants in a larger population.

[SAFETY OF INFLUENZA VACCINATION IN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE ALLERGY TO HEN'S EGGS: A PROSPECTIVE CASE SERIES STUDY].

BACKGROUND Influenza vaccination guidelines have recommended that pediatricians should consult with allergists in the case of for children with histories of anaphylaxis to hens eggs. On the other hand, whether such children can be safely vaccinated is unclear. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety of influenza vaccination for children severely allergic to eggs. METHODS The study population consisted severe egg-allergic children that had never been immunized with influenza vaccine. The inclusion criteria of severe egg-allergic children included evidence of serum specific IgE antibodies to egg white or an ovomucoid level of class4 or more and complete elimination of dietary intake of eggs, or occurrence of Sampson Grade 3 to 5 anaphylactic reactions upon egg ingestion. Patients underwent skin prick tests, and received 0.1ml of influenza vaccine, followed in 30 minutes if no reaction with the remainder of an age-appropriate dose. We observed the subjects for 30 minutes afterwards, and they were observed by their patients during the subsequent 24 hours. RESULTS A total of 17 patients were enrolled. All patients received influenza vaccination without an allergic reaction. CONCLUSIONS Influenza vaccination is safe even in children with histories of severe egg allergy. influenza vaccination without an allergic reaction.