Munchausen Stridor-A Strong False Alarm of Anaphylaxis

[LinksEtc]

Tweeted by @Aller_MD

"Munchausen Stridor-A Strong False Alarm of Anaphylaxis"
http://ivancevichmd.blogspot.com/2014/12/munchausen-stridor-strong-false-alarm.html

Our initial skin testing with placebos reproduced the symptoms without objective findings.

Disclosing the test results markedly displeased one patient but reassured the other who subsequently tolerated the suspected allergen.

[ajasfolks2]

Here is link to the .pdf -- haven't had time to read but will try in next day or so.

http://e-aair.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/9999AAIR/aair-6-577.pdf

[guess]

These are fascinating.  It really breaks with previous methods, kinda ballsy.  Obvious problems with population, generalization and whatnot aside, there's a few novel factors here.  One is a key observation inherent in the investigators and patient profiles.

Allergist investigator is an allergy mom.  Professional experience and training specific the branch of medicine, manages daily strict avoidance for pediatric patient with history of anaphylaxis meaning how we know it to be the constellation of symptoms.

Subjects are a nurse and police officer.  911 Lottery and various other surveys of pediatricians, EMS personnel, ER staff tell us they are trained to essentially equate airway issues only with anaphylaxis.  The nurse may indeed not need psychiatric help if she's been trained in the typical manner most of her profession are - that airway=anaphylaxis.  The title itself solely calls out stridor.