Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2014 Sep;2(4):272-276. 10.4168/aard.2014.2.4.272.

Sensitization patterns to common allergens in Korean children younger than 6 years of age presenting with typical symptoms or signs of allergic diseases: a single center study

• Yoon JW
• Lee SM
• Kim JH
• Kim NY
• Baek JH
• Baek HS
• Jee HM
• Kim HY
• Choi SH
• Kim KE
• Yum HY
• Han MY
• Kim J
• Shin YH

• KMID: 2262395
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2014.2.4.272

Abstract

PURPOSE
Population studies have reported that sensitization to inhalant allergens is rare in young children; however, most subjects in those studies had little or no symptoms or signs highly suggestive of allergic diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of sensitization to inhalant allergens in young children with symptoms and/or signs of allergic disease.
METHODS
We analyzed the results of all specific IgE tests performed at our hospital laboratory in children younger than 6 years presenting with symptoms and/or signs highly suggestive of allergic diseases between 2008 and 2013. Specific IgE tests for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Alternaria alternata, German cockroach, cat dander, egg white or egg yolk, milk, peanut, and soybean were performed on 295 children; a specific IgE concentration > or =0.35 or > or =0.2 IU/mL was considered positive. We also compared allergen sensitization rates using the two cutoff values.
RESULTS
One hundred eighty-one children (61.4%) were positive to at least 1 allergen tested and 53 children (18.9%) were positive to at least 1 inhalant allergen when a specific IgE concentration > or =0.35 IU/mL was considered positive. The children were more likely to have asthma or allergic rhinitis when they were sensitized to any inhalant allergen, particularly house dust mites. The prevalence of sensitization to inhalant allergens increased with age (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of polysensitization among different age groups, but sensitization to both inhalant and food allergens significantly increased with age.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that specific IgE tests to common inhalant allergens, particularly the house dust mites, may be considered when performing blood screening tests for young children presenting with symptoms and/or signs of allergic diseases.

Keyword

Allergens; Child; Sensitization

MeSH Terms

Allergens*
Alternaria
Animals
Asthma
Blattellidae
Cats
Child*
Dander
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Egg White
Egg Yolk
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Laboratories, Hospital
Mass Screening
Milk
Prevalence
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis
Soybeans
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Allergen sensitization rates according to the two cutoffs.

• 

  Fig. 2 Changing patterns of the percentage of children with sensitization to inhalant allergens, food allergens, both allergens, and polysensitization according to age.

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