Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2014 May;2(2):97-102. 10.4168/aard.2014.2.2.97.

Changes of aeroallergen sensitization in children with asthma or allergic rhinitis from a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul over 10 years

• Jung YH
• Hwang KH
• Yang SI
• Lee E
• Kim KH
• Kim MJ
• Park GM
• Seo JH
• Kim HY
• Yu J
• Hong SJ

• KMID: 2261743
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2014.2.2.97

Abstract

PURPOSE
Allergic diseases have been increased in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of sensitization rate to inhalant allergens over 10 years in children with allergic diseases from a tertiary referral hospital.
METHODS
Skin prick tests were done in total 2,225 children in 2000, 2005, and 2010. Changes of skin reactivity to 12 major inhalant allergens, including Tree pollen mixture I (Alder, Elm, Hazel, Poplar, Willow), Tree pollen mixture II (Beech, Birch, Oak, Plane tree), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, Alternaria, cat dander, and dog dander were investigated.
RESULTS
The sensitization rates to Tree pollen mixture I and II were increased as 5.0%, 6.8% in 2000, 8.5%, 9.8% in 2005, and 14.8%, 17.3% in 2010, respectively (trend P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). And the sensitization rates to D. pteronyssinus cat dander and dog dander were changed as 55%, 4.8%, 4.8% in 2000, 62.2%, 11.9%, 28% in 2005, and 63.1%, 12.7%, 16.7% in 2010, respectively. The distribution of sensitized pollens was oak (12.8%), beech (12.4%), pine (10.3%), birch (10%), hazel (9.6%), alder (8%), elder (6.9%), elm (5.4%) in the study of 2010. When allergen/histamine ratio was compared, rates of strong sensitization over 4+ to tree pollen were increased.
CONCLUSION
The sensitization rates to inhalant allergens were increased in children with asthma or allergic rhinitis from a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul over last 10 years. Especially, an increase in the degree of skin reactivity was observed in cat dander, dog dander, and tree pollens. The studies to investigate the etiology of this increase and prevention will be needed.

Keyword

Allergens; Asthma; Allergic rhinitis; Hypersensitivity; Child

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Alnus
Alternaria
Animals
Asthma*
Betula
Cats
Child*
Dander
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Dogs
Fagus
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Korea
Pollen
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis*
Seoul
Skin
Tertiary Care Centers*
Allergens

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Changes of sensitization rate for age. (A) Tree pollen mixture I. (B) Tree pollen mixture II. (C) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. (D) Dermatophagoides farina. Changes in sensitization rate in each age group between 2000 and 2010. P-values are calculated by chi-square test (linear by linear association) for ages.

• 

  Fig. 2 Changes of rate for allergen to histamine (A/H) ratio. (A) Tree pollen mixture I. (B) Tree pollen mixture II. (C) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. (D) Dermatophagoides farina. Changes in proportion of sensitized patients according to the skin prick test results between 2000 and 2010. P-values are calculated by chi-square test (linear by linear association) for allergen to histamine ratio.

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