Investigation of Allergic Sensitization Pattern in 4,203 Children in Northern China

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The objective of this study is to investigate the allergen sensitization pattern among 4,203 children in the Shanxi region of China and to provide guidance for diagnosis and prevention of allergic diseases. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A retrospective analysis was conducted on the allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) results of 4,203 children aged 0–12 years from January to December in 2019. SIgE antibodies to 19 allergens in the serum sample were detected by enzyme ALLERGO-SORBENT testing. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In total, 49.70% (2,089/4,203) of children with allergic diseases were positive for sIgE, and the top 5 allergens were egg white 18.63% (783/4,203), artemisia 14.47% (608/4,203), milk 13.04% (548/4,203), ragweed 8.66% (364/4,203), and poplar/willow/elm 8.52% (358/4,203). Significant differences in the positive rate of food allergens and aeroallergens in different ages were found (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). 50.98% (1,065/2,089) patients were sensitive to 2 or more allergens. The high sensitization rate in the &#x3e;3-year group was significantly higher than the ≤3-year group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Egg white and artemisia are the most common allergens in children in northern China. This study provides allergic sensitization pattern of children and clinical epidemiological data in the region.

Increased sensitization rate to tree pollen of allergic children and altered pollen season in Seoul metropolitan area, Korea

Introduction: Children with allergy may increase a chance to sensitize the allergic pollens with several environmental changes. Purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation with alternation of pollination associated with meteorological changes and increased sensitization rate of pollen allergens of children in Seoul metropolitan area, Korea. Methods: There were recruited 8,295 children who visited the pediatric allergic clinics at Hanyang University Seoul and Guri Hospital for allergy symptoms from January 1st, 1998 to December 31st, 2019. The pollen was collected by Burkard 7 days-sampler in 2 hospitals during the study. Meteorological data was investigated from Korea Meteorological Administration. Results: Allergic sensitization of oak, hazel, and alder pollens had the highest rate of increase among major tree pollens, an increase of 0.28% annually. The sensitization rate to pollen was increased with younger age group yearly. The duration of pollen season was 98 days in 1998, but 140 days in 2019. The duration of the pollen seasons and pollen sensitization rate to trees were positively correlated. The relationship between the sensitization rate to pollens and accumulated temperature were also correlated, positively. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the correlation between the weather changes and consequent changes of pollen seasons with increasing the sensitization rate to allergic pollens in children in Seoul metropolitan area. In addition, there was an increase in the sensitization rate in younger age group from year to year. Continuous changes in distribution of pollens raised from meteorological changes are expected from now on.

Role Of Viral Coinfections In Asthma Development In Children With Severe Bronchiolitis In Early Childhood

BACKGROUND. Severe viral bronchiolitis is associated with a higher risk of developing asthma, but little is known about the medium-term prognosis and the lung function evolution of patients admitted for viral coinfection-associated bronchiolitis. Our main objective was to compare the lung function, the prevalence of asthma and the rate of allergic sensitization at 6-9 years in children hospitalized for bronchiolitis with viral coinfection versus single viral infection.METHODS. Observational, longitudinal study in children previously hospitalized for viral bronchiolitis with current age between 6-9 years. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected. Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide determination, spirometry and skin prick test for common aeroallergens were performed.RESULTS. A total of 244 bronchiolitis-admitted children (52 coinfections and 192 single infections), with current age 6-9 years, accepted to participate by telephone answering the clinical questionnaires. Of them, 181 patients agreed for a medical visit. The overall frequency of asthma was 21%, being this prevalence almost twice as high in the viral coinfection group (p = 0.049). The coinfection cohort had more than twice as many admissions (p = 0.04), was more likely to receive montelukast (p = 0.06) and salmeterol/fluticasone treatment (p = 0.03) than the single-infection one. No differences regarding lung function values or allergic sensitization rate were observed between both groups.The variables independently related to current asthma at 6-9 years were: viral coinfection during bronchiolitis (p = 0.004), allergic rhinitis (p = 0.001), food allergy (p = 0.05) and atopic dermatitis (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS. Severe bronchiolitis associated with double or multiple viral detection in the first 24 months is an independent risk factor for higher frequency and greater severity of asthma at 6-9 years, being this risk almost three times higher compared to single infection. This fact is suggested by the higher frequency of current asthma, symptoms in intercrisis periods, maintenance anti-asthma treatment and number of hospitalizations for recurrent wheezing in children with coinfection compared to single infection. Early viral etiology identification in severe bronchiolitis might facilitate the prompt prediction and treatment of asthma in school age.

Clinical Manifestations of Allergic Rhinitis by Age and Gender: A 12-Year Single-Center Study

Objectives: Currently, epidemiological data on allergic rhinitis collected through the skin prick test are scarce. Moreover, the relationship of age and sex to allergic rhinitis is not comprehensively understood. This study aimed to characterize allergic rhinitis and the associated clinical manifestations by age and sex. Methods: We retrospectively investigated data from 2883 patients who visited a single university hospital for rhinitis symptoms between January 2003 and December 2014. Of these 2883 patients, 1964 who underwent a skin prick test with 11 standardized allergen extracts and completed a nasal symptom questionnaire were enrolled. The clinical characteristics of allergen sensitization and nasal symptoms were analyzed by sex and age distribution. Results: The prevalence of allergen sensitization progressively decreased with age after peaking at between 20 and 29 years. The sensitization rate was higher in males than in females ( P = .046). The sensitization rate to house dust mites decreased with age, while sensitization to mugwort and ragweed increased. Six allergens ( Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, mugwort, trees, ragweed, and cats) were sufficient to identify >96% of patients with allergen sensitization. Nasal obstruction tended to decrease with age and was more prevalent in males ( P = .002) than in females, while rhinorrhea ( P = .007) and itching ( P = .013) were more prevalent in females. Total nasal symptom scores did not differ by sex. Conclusions: The clinical characteristics of allergic rhinitis, including allergen-sensitization patterns and related symptoms, varied by age and sex. Six common allergens could be sufficient to generate a cost-effective tool to identify allergic rhinitis.

Sensitization rate and sum of sige-antibodies to apple grades of various colours. Association of these indices with severity of atopic dermatitis

Aim. To assess the rate of sensitization to the grades of apples of various colours and analyze the association of the obtained indices and total sIgE levels of these grades with the severity of atopic dermatitis. Materials and methods. The blood sera of 215 patients, suffering from alimentary allergy, were studied. The detection rate of sensitization and that of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) concentration sum to allergens of apple grades with various coating colours as well as the association of these indices with the degree of severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) was analyzed. Test-systems were used for immune-enzyme analysis of production. Statistical analysis of the obtained results was performed using the program “MedStat” (Donetsk). Results. It was shown that the detection rate of sensitization to the grades with mixed red colour is reliably higher (p < 0.001) compared to the grades without coating colour. The degree of AD severity correlates with the total quantity of apple grades, to which sensitization has been revealed (p < 0.01), with the quantity of grades with mixed red colour, to which sensitization has been found (p < 0.01) and with sIgE sum to the grades with mixed red colour (p < 0.01). Reliable differences (p = 0.006) in the degree of severity of atopic dermatitis among persons, sensitized to apple grades and with no sensitization to this fruit were established. Conclusions.The obtained data are to be used when choosing a diet and correcting it for persons with alimentary allergy and atopic dermatitis.

ECOLOGICAL AND HYGIENIC ASPECTS OF THE SENSITIZATION RATE OF THE POPULATION IN A RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT

There are considered ecological-hygienic aspects of the sensitization rate of population in residential environmental. The considerable part of the life of a person passes in conditions of residential environmental, he is exposed to the whole complex of sensitizing factors, with the house dust being the most important among these factors. Results. According to results of our research, the greatest number of allergic reactions was noted under the contact with domestic, pollen and epidermal allergens. In the structure of allergic diseases in the population the most frequent were allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The overwhelming majority of observed cases was shown to suffer from functional disorders of the autonomic nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and there was also observed the presence of chronic foci of inflammation. As a result of the executed comprehensive hygienic evaluation of the quality of residential environment there was established that in conditions of residential and public buildings the array of chemicals also had allergical effect on population. Discussion. The complex chemical pollutants of the residential environment in isolation was shown to fail to exert anaphylactogenic activity, whereas in complex with house dust allergen there are revealed the decline in immunological indices of the nonspecific resistance and inhibition of functional activity of T-suppressors, and amplification of immediate hypersensitivity in condition of impact of allergical complex of domestic dust. The existence of disorders of different functional systems of organism also provokes the development of the state of the hypersensitivity of population. Conclusions. The sensitization of the population was shown to be directly affected by the combined effect on human sensitization with allergenic components of house dust and chemical pollutants. Factors contributing to the development and occurrence of allergic pathologies among the population include: the level of chemical contamination of residential environment, various functional disorders of the body systems, which give rise in increased sensitization of the population.

Climate Change Influences the Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) Pollen Count and Sensitization Rate in South Korea

BackgroundJapanese cedar pollen (JCP) is the major outdoor allergen for spring pollinosis and seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) caused by JCP is the most common disease in Jeju Island, South Korea and in Japan. Prior to our research, JCP counts were strongly temperature dependent and were significantly associated with the JCP sensitization rate and JC pollinosis. This event may still be ongoing due to the effects of global climate change, such as increasing temperature.Methods and FindingFor these reasons, we are studying the correlation among increasing temperatures, the JCP counts in the atmosphere and the JCP sensitization rate.ConclusionsIn this study, our data show that increasing temperatures in January and April might lead to earlier and longer JCP seasons and that earlier and longer JCP seasons lead to an increase in the JCP sensitization rate, which influences the prevalence of JC pollinosis.