Effects of Drug Provocation Test on the Quality of life in Caregivers of Children with Drug Hypersensitivity

Abstract

An assessment of the quality of life in caregivers of drug hypersensitive children has rarely been considered. Generally, only one-quarter of the children with suspected drug hypersensitivity are confirmed drug allergy by a drug provocation test (DPT). It would be of great benefit to consider implementing a DPT that may help improve the quality of life of the caregivers. This was a prospective study. The subjects were caregivers of children with drug hypersensitivity who underwent a DPT at the Pediatric Allergy Clinic at Songklanagarind Hospital between November 2017 and April 2019. The PSU-Parent-reported Drug Hypersensitivity Quality of Life Questionnaire (PSU-PDrHy-Q) was used to evaluate the quality of life of the caregivers before and at 2 weeks after the children underwent a DPT. Sixty-eight caregivers were recruited into the study. The median age (IQR) was 38.0 (35.0, 44.0) years. The median age (IQR) of the children with drug hypersensitivity was 6.7 (3.3, 10.5) years. Positive DPT results occurred in 17 (25%) children. According to the PSU-PDrHy-Q, the median total scores (IQR) after the DPTs were lower than before the DPTs (32.6 [20.6, 46.5] vs. 48.3 [26.8, 65.5], p < 0.001). The median score for mental health before and after the DPT were 35.7 (18.3, 49.8) and 24.4 (14.5, 36.2) and for social activity were 10.9 (4.6, 17.7) and 9.1 (5.8, 12.6), respectively (p < 0.001). Taking care of children with drug hypersensitivity affected the quality of life of the caregivers. The quality of life improved after the DPT.