Maternal Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Psychological Burden in Mothers of Korean Children With Anaphylaxis

Purpose Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening, but post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in the caregivers of children with anaphylaxis have not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the psychological burden on mothers of children with recent anaphylaxis. Methods A total of 188 children with recent anaphylaxis was recruited from 13 hospitals in Korea. Validated questionnaires, including the Korean versions of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (K-BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), and the Impact of Event Scale Revised-Korean version (IES-R-K), were used to evaluate maternal anxiety, depression, and PTSS. Results The median ages of children and their mothers were 4 and 36 years, respectively. PTSS (IES-R-K ≥ 25) were identified in 56.9% of mothers, and 57.9% of them showed severe PTSS. The proportions of mothers who had anxiety (K-BAI ≥ 22) and depression (K-BDI ≥ 17) were 18.6% and 33.0%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that the patient’s history of asthma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.46; 95% CI, 1.17–25.59) and the presence of central nervous symptoms (aOR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.07–9.96) were associated with PTSS. Age of 2 or older (aOR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.10–7.52) and eggs, milk, or wheat as the cause of anaphylaxis (aOR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.10–7.52) increased the risk of severe PTSS. Conclusions The rate of PTSS among mothers of children with recent anaphylaxis was high at 56.9%. Clinicians who care for pediatric anaphylaxis patients should be aware of the psychological burden on their caregivers.