Study finds low frequency of local anesthetic allergy in pediatric patients

Although concerns about local anesthetic (LA) allergies are common, especially in pediatric patients with a history of atopy or other drug allergies, a new study found that the actual frequency of true LA allergies is low.

The retrospective study analyzed clinical and laboratory data from 153 pediatric patients referred to the allergy clinic with suspected LA allergies. The patients, with an average age of 8.9 years, predominantly presented with a history of non-LA drug allergies or asthma.

Among the cases evaluated, hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) to local anesthetics were most frequently associated with articaine and lidocaine. However, the study found that only 11.1% of patients tested positive on intradermal tests, with lidocaine being the primary allergen. Notably, subcutaneous provocation tests were administered to the majority of patients, revealing a low incidence of allergic reactions, further supporting the rarity of LA allergies in pediatric populations.

Reference
Caliskan N, Yildirim G, Bologur H, et al. Local anesthetics allergy in children: Evaluation of diagnostic tests with Real-Life data. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2024;35(2):e14097. doi: 10.1111/pai.14097. PMID: 38404118.