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

Jung Won Yoon; Sang Min Lee; Joon Hwan Kim; Na Yeon Kim; Ji Hyeon Baek; Hey-Sung Baek; Hye Mi Jee; Hyeung Yoon Kim; Sun Hee Choi; Ki Eun Kim; Hye Yung Yum; Man Yong Han; Jintack Kim; Youn Ho Shin

doi:10.4168/aard.2014.2.4.272

Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.2(4) > 1059039

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Yoon, Lee, Kim, Kim, Baek, Baek, Jee, Kim, Choi, Kim, Yum, Han, Kim, and Shin: 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

Original Article

Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2014; 2(4): 272-276.

Published online: 30 September 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/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

Jung Won Yoon¹, Sang Min Lee¹, Joon Hwan Kim², Na Yeon Kim², Ji Hyeon Baek², Hey-Sung Baek³, Hye Mi Jee², Hyeung Yoon Kim⁴, Sun Hee Choi⁵, Ki Eun Kim², Hye Yung Yum⁶, Man Yong Han², Jintack Kim⁷, Youn Ho Shin²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea.

²Department of Pediatrics, CHA University School of Medicine, Pocheon, Korea.

³Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

⁴Department of Pediatrics, Bundang Jaesaeng Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.

⁵Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

⁶Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

⁷Department of Pediatrics, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: Youn Ho Shin. Department of Pediatrics, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, 566 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-913, Korea. Tel: +82-2-3468-3032, Fax: +82-2-3468-3697, epirubicin13@gmail.com

Received 2 January 2014 Revised 21 April 2014 Accepted 11 May 2014

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/).

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 ≥0.35 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 ≥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.

Keywords: Allergens, Child, Sensitization

Figures and Tables

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.

Table 1

Clinical characteristics of the study subjects (n=295)

Values are presented as number (%) or mean±standard deviation.

^*A specific IgE concentration ≥0.35 IU/mL was considered positive.

Table 2

Prevalence of positive serum specific IgE tests in children younger than 6 years

Values are presented as number (%).

^*No. of serum specific IgE ≥0.35 IU/mL.

Table 3

Distribution of children sensitized to inhalant allergens, food allergens, both allergens, or polysensitization according to age groups in the children younger than 6 years

Values are presented as number (%) or mean±standard deviation.

Inhalant allergens include house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae), Alternaria alternata, German cockroach, and cat dander and food allergens include milk, egg (egg white or egg yolk), peanut, and soybean.

Table 4

Association between allergic diseases and serum specific IgE levels higher than or equal to 0.35 IU/mL to various allergens

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