Prevalence of Acute Hypersensitivity Reactions in Pediatric Patients Receiving Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab.

Introduction: Studies of acute hypersensitivity reactions in pediatric populations receiving Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (CPIF) are complicated by small size, wide age ranges, and diverse definitions of such reactions.
Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients aged 13 years or younger treated with CPIF for Crotalid envenomation from November 2006 to 2016. The primary outcome was the presence of an acute hypersensitivity reaction to CPIF and was defined as the development of any of the following symptoms within 3 hours of initiation of CPIF infusion: urticaria, wheezing or respiratory distress, angioedema, hypotension, nausea, and/or vomiting. Demographics, CPIF dose to control and total dose, bite location, level of care, and length of stay were also recorded.
Results: Thirty-four patients were ultimately treated with CPIF. Ages ranged from 10 months to 13 years. Twenty-one patients (60%) were male, 24 (70.6%) were admitted to the ICU, and the median length of stay was 2 days with a range of 1-11 days. Zero patients developed an acute hypersensitivity reaction to CPIF.
Conclusion: Acute hypersensitivity reactions to CPIF did not occur in this cohort. Such reactions are rare with the use of CPIF in pediatric patients.