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House dust mite sensitization is the main risk factor for the increase in prevalence of wheeze in 13‐ to 14‐year‐old schoolchildren in Guangzhou city, China
Author(s) -
Li J.,
Wang H.,
Chen Y.,
Zheng J.,
Wong G. W. K.,
Zhong N.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/cea.12157
Subject(s) - wheeze , medicine , asthma , sensitization , house dust mite , allergen , allergy , risk factor , atopy , pediatrics , aeroallergen , immunology
Summary Background Little is known about time trend of prevalence of asthma and the association between the changing prevalence and allergen sensitization in Chinese children. Objective To determine the changes in prevalence of asthma and allergen sensitization in schoolchildren over a period of 15 years. Methods A total of 6928 schoolchildren aged 13–14 years in 2009 were recruited for the study using the Phase III Protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergic disease in Childhood ( ISAAC ) and 2531 of them underwent skin prick test for seven common aeroallergens. The results were compared with those obtained in the Phase I (1994/95) and III (2001/02) ISAAC studies. Results The prevalence of asthma ever and current wheeze increased from 3.9% and 3.4% in 1994, to 4.6% and 4.8% in 2001 ( P <0.001), and to 6.9% and 6.1% in 2009 ( P ≤ 0.008). The prevalence of higher degree of skin response to house dust mites ( HDM s) and cat, and atopic index increased significantly in all children in 2010 when compared with those in 2002 ( P <0.001). Prevalence of wheeze remained unchanged in subjects without sensitization to any tested allergen including HDM s ( P > 0.05). Sensitization to HDM s, especially Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus was associated with increase in prevalence of wheeze. Conclusion The prevalence of wheeze and sensitization to common aeroallergens in secondary schoolchildren in Guangzhou China has increased significantly since 1994. Sensitization to HDM s is an important risk factor associated with the increase in prevalence of wheeze in this group of population in Guangzhou city.