Despite the availability of epinephrine auto-injectors, fewer than 50% of patients use them before arriving at the hospital for a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). This delay in treatment significantly increases the risk of complications and hospitalization. Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan, a researcher at the McGill University Health Centre, emphasized the urgency of optimizing the use of this life-saving treatment. Using a pan-Canadian anaphylaxis registry, his team demonstrated that training policies in schools and daycare centers significantly increase the use of epinephrine compared to home settings.
At the same time, his research on oral immunotherapy for peanuts marks a turning point: preliminary results show that to induce tolerance, a very low maintenance dose (30 mg) is as effective as a high dose (300 mg) and causes much less severe allergic reactions during treatment. The development of low- -dose immunotherapy protocols promises to make food desensitization safer and more acceptable to families.
Finally, the researcher focused on the management of antibiotic allergies, which are often overdiagnosed and unnecessarily limit treatment options in children. His work confirms that mild reactions associated with the oral administration of cephalosporin-class antibiotics can be safely evaluated using an oral challenge test, thereby helping to eliminate erroneous drug allergy labels.
These advances are redefining standards of care in pediatrics. By focusing on public policies regarding access to epinephrine, low-dose immunotherapy protocols, and methods for diagnosing antibiotic allergies, Dr. Ben-Shoshan’s team is transforming the daily management of allergies, reducing the burden on the healthcare system, and improving the quality of life for young patients.
* This text was translated using an artificial intelligence tool and edited by a staff member.
Références
Sillcox, C., Gabrielli, S., O’Keefe, A., McCusker, C., Abrams, E. M., Eiwegger, T., Atkinson, A., Kim, V., Copaescu, A.-M., et Ben-Shoshan, M. (2024). Assessing pediatric cephalosporin allergic reactions through direct graded oral challenges. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 12(1), 156-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2023.10.009
Khalafa, R., Prosty, C., Clarke, A. E., McCusker, C., Bretholz, A., et Ben-Shoshan, M. (2025). Outpatient epinephrine administration reduces ICU admission rates in anaphylactic reactions: A propensity score-matched cohort. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 13(3), 689-691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2024.12.020
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