Abstract

Background: Childhood asthma is an important public health problem worldwide. Risk factors for asthma development include allergic sensitization and exposure to animals.
Objective: To identify which (perennial or seasonal) inhalant allergens are associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis in children
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study. We evaluated data from medical documentation of 6,000 children (aged 6 – 18 years) with diagnosed asthma and/ or allergic rhinitis who had attended our allergy outpatient clinic. Into the analyses we included those subjects who during diagnostic procedures had specific IgE test done to confirm allergen sensitization.
Results: We included 5,076 children in the analysis. We showed that among seasonal allergens only sensitization to timothy or birch significantly changed the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma diagnosis. Of the perennial allergens, house dust mite or cat were most closely related with both allergic rhinitis and asthma. Results of ROC curve analysis showed that in atopic children the specific IgE level of seasonal allergens did not significantly change the prevalence of asthma diagnosis. Sensitization to more than one perennial allergen significantly increased the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Conclusion: We showed that sensitization to the seasonal allergens timothy and birch as well as to the perennial allergens house dust mite and cat, is associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis in children. Our study determined the role of multiple perennial indoor allergens in the developement of allergic diseases in children. The identification of the specific allergens makes them potential targets for intervention and prevention strategies.

German version published in Allergologie, Vol. 40, No. 1/2017, pp. 23-28

Author Details

Authors

• M. Kuzdak¹
• J. Jerzynska²
• I. Stelmach²
• D. Podlecka²
• P. Majak²
• A. Janas³
• R. Stelmach³
• W. Stelmach¹

Departments

• ¹ Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Social Medicine Institute, Medical University of Lodz,
• ² Department of Pediatrics and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Copernicus Memorial Hospital,
• ³ Institute of Dental Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland

Address

Wlodzimierz Stelmach, MD, PhD
Social Medicine Institute
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine
Medical University of Lodz
Żeligowskiego 7/9
90-752 Lodz, Polen
Email: [email protected]

Citation