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Patterns of sensitisation to common food and inhalant allergens and allergic symptoms in pre‐school children
Author(s) -
Kim Hyeong Yun,
Shin Youn Ho,
Yum Hye Yung,
Jee Hye Mi,
Jang Sun Jung,
Yoon Jung Won,
Han Man Yong
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12150
Subject(s) - medicine , atopy , allergy , asthma , odds ratio , dust mites , allergen , logistic regression , food allergy , cross sectional study , immunology , pediatrics , pathology
Aim Sensitisation to allergens and allergy symptoms depends on age, but this relationship is poorly understood. We therefore investigated the effect of age on allergen sensitisation and allergy symptoms in pre‐school children. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 629 K orean children (age 3 to 6 years). Current allergic symptoms were assessed by the K orean version of the I nternational S tudy of A sthma and A llergies in C hildhood questionnaire that was adapted for pre‐school children. Sensitisation to five airborne and three food allergens was evaluated by a skin prick test. χ 2 test was used to analyse differences in age trend. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain the adjusted odds ratios ( aOR ) for allergic disease. Results A s age increased, the prevalence of current rhinitis ( P < 0.001), the sensitisation to pollen allergens ( P < 0.001) and polysensitised children ( P = 0.002) increased, but the prevalence of current asthma ( P = 0.010) and the sensitisation to food allergens ( P = 0.009) decreased. There was no effect of age on the prevalence of current eczema ( P = 0.685), monosensitised children ( P = 0.282) and atopy ( P = 0.160). The agreement between sensitisation to dust mites and atopy increased with age, and was 93% at age 6 years ( P = 0.05). The polysensitisation ( aOR = 3.0 (95% CI , 1.4–5.0), P < 0.005) and the presence of eczema in the first 2 years of life ( aOR = 4.1 (95% CI , 2.2–7.6), P < 0.001) were significant independent risk factors for current rhinoconjunctivitis. Conclusion The type and number of allergen sensitisations and allergic symptoms changed from age 3 to 6 years. Careful follow‐up of changes in sensitisation patterns may provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the allergic march.