Clinical Investigation on Allergic-like Reactions and Oculo-respiratory Syndrome After the H1N1 Pandemic Vaccine

During the 2009-2010 immunization campaign against pandemic H1N1, some people reported having allergic-like reactions (anaphylaxis(a shock-like reaction), hives, swelling, etc.). A vaccine allergy may be more or less severe or intense. Patients may have skin reactions (rash with or without itching), respiratory problems (cough, spasm of the airways), angioedema (swelling) of various body parts (face, eyelids, throat etc.) and circulatory problems (low blood pressure or shock). Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can sometimes be fatal. Other people vaccinated against pandemic H1N1 had an oculo-respiratory syndrome. Oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS) is also a reaction to the influenza vaccine, which includes symptoms such as bilateral conjunctivitis (red eyes) with swelling of the face or respiratory symptoms (chest tightness, coughing, a sensation of throat closure, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, wheezing or difficulty breathing). The investigators know that ORS is not a true allergic reaction. Because many signs and symptoms of ORS are similar to those observed during an allergic reaction, it is often difficult to distinguish ORS from an allergic reaction.

This study will compare three groups of patients: those who had allergic-like reactions, those who had ORS and vaccinated individuals who had no such adverse events. Pregnant women cannot participate in this study. The study has three goals. First, the investigators want to determine, among those who had allergic-like reactions after influenza vaccination, what proportion (percentage) of these people are actually allergic to the vaccine or its components. Second, among those who are not allergic to the vaccine, which other processes may have caused these symptoms. Finally, the investigators will try to identify whether there are features that distinguish patients who have a true allergic reaction from those affected by ORS, and those that had no adverse events.


Eligibility Criteria:
case:

Inclusion Criteria:

* There will be three groups of cases. For all groups of cases, patients will be included if the time of onset of their first symptoms has been within 24 hours after vaccination and if they are between 10 and 64 years of age.
* Anaphylaxis: these patients will have to meet at least level 3 of diagnostic certainty according to the Brighton Collaboration criteria for anaphylaxis
* Allergic-like reactions: These patients will have to have displayed at least one sign or symptom of an allergic reaction (any of the minor or major criteria of anaphylaxis) but will exclude patients with conjunctivitis who will belong to the ORS group (see below).
* ORS cases: According to the Public Health Agency case definition, these patients should have presented a bilateral conjunctivitis plus ≥1 of the seven respiratory symptoms (cough, wheeze, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness or sore throat) that started within 24 hrs of vaccination, with or without facial oedema (no restriction for duration)
* Controls will be individuals between 10 and 64 years of age who received the pH1N1 vaccine but did not present any of the above mentioned adverse events after their vaccine (anaphylaxis, allergic like reactions and SOR).

Exclusion Criteria:

-Pregnant women cannot participate in this study.