Abstract
Purpose
Allergic diseases have been increased in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of sensitization rate to inhalant allergens over 10 years in children with allergic diseases from a tertiary referral hospital.
Methods
Skin prick tests were done in total 2,225 children in 2000, 2005, and 2010. Changes of skin reactivity to 12 major inhalant allergens, including Tree pollen mixture I (Alder, Elm, Hazel, Poplar, Willow), Tree pollen mixture II (Beech, Birch, Oak, Plane tree), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farina, Alternaria, cat dander, and dog dander were investigated.
Results
The sensitization rates to Tree pollen mixture I and II were increased as 5.0%, 6.8% in 2000, 8.5%, 9.8% in 2005, and 14.8%, 17.3% in 2010, respectively (trend P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). And the sensitization rates to D. pteronyssinus cat dander and dog dander were changed as 55%, 4.8%, 4.8% in 2000, 62.2%, 11.9%, 28% in 2005, and 63.1%, 12.7%, 16.7% in 2010, respectively. The distribution of sensitized pollens was oak (12.8%), beech (12.4%), pine (10.3%), birch (10%), hazel (9.6%), alder (8%), elder (6.9%), elm (5.4%) in the study of 2010. When allergen/histamine ratio was compared, rates of strong sensitization over 4+ to tree pollen were increased.
Conclusion
The sensitization rates to inhalant allergens were increased in children with asthma or allergic rhinitis from a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul over last 10 years. Especially, an increase in the degree of skin reactivity was observed in cat dander, dog dander, and tree pollens. The studies to investigate the etiology of this increase and prevention will be needed.
Figures and Tables
Table 2
Data were calculated by logistic regression analysis. Tree pollen mixture I includes Alder, Elm, Hazel, Poplar and Willow tree pollen. Tree pollen mixture II includes Beech, Birch, Oak and Plane tree pollen.
D. pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; D. farina, Dermatophagoides farina; NA, not analyzed.
*P-values are significant.
References
1. Weinmayr G, Forastiere F, Weiland SK, Rzehak P, Abramidze T, Annesi-Maesano I, et al. International variation in prevalence of rhinitis and its relationship with sensitisation to perennial and seasonal allergens. Eur Respir J. 2008; 32:1250–1261.
2. Pearce N, Ait-Khaled N, Beasley R, Mallol J, Keil U, Mitchell E, et al. Worldwide trends in the prevalence of asthma symptoms: phase III of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Thorax. 2007; 62:758–766.
3. Oh JW. Characteristics of allergic pollens and the recent increase of sensitization rate to weed pollen in childhood in Korea. Korean J Pediatr. 2008; 51:355–361.
4. Suh M, Kim HH, Sohn MH, Kim KE, Kim C, Shin DC. Prevalence of allergic diseases among Korean school-age children: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study. J Korean Med Sci. 2011; 26:332–338.
5. Hong SJ, Lee MS, Sohn MH, Shim JY, Han YS, Park KS, et al. Self-reported prevalence and risk factors of asthma among Korean adolescents: 5-year follow-up study, 1995-2000. Clin Exp Allergy. 2004; 34:1556–1562.
6. Lee SI, Shin MH, Lee HB, Lee JS, Son BK, Koh YY, et al. Prevalences of symptoms of asthma and other allergic diseases in korean children: a nationwide questionnaire survey. J Korean Med Sci. 2001; 16:155–164.
7. Lee JY, Seo JH, Kwon JW, Yu J, Kim BJ, Lee SY, et al. Exposure to gene-environment interactions before 1 year of age may favor the development of atopic dermatitis. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2012; 157:363–371.
8. Kwon JW, Kim BJ, Song Y, Seo JH, Kim TH, Yu J, et al. Changes in the prevalence of childhood asthma in seoul from 1995 to 2008 and its risk factors. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2011; 3:27–33.
9. Yi O, Kwon HJ, Kim H, Ha M, Hong SJ, Hong YC, et al. Effect of environmental tobacco smoke on atopic dermatitis among children in Korea. Environ Res. 2012; 113:40–45.
10. Anderson HR, Ruggles R, Pandey KD, Kapetanakis V, Brunekreef B, Lai CK, et al. Ambient particulate pollution and the world-wide prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in children: Phase One of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Occup Environ Med. 2010; 67:293–300.
11. Wickens K, Barry D, Friezema A, Rhodius R, Bone N, Purdie G, et al. Fast foods - are they a risk factor for asthma? Allergy. 2005; 60:1537–1541.
12. Kim JH, Oh JW, Lee HB, Kim SW, Kang IJ, Kook MH, et al. Changes in sensitization rate to weed allergens in children with increased weeds pollen counts in Seoul metropolitan area. J Korean Med Sci. 2012; 27:350–355.
13. Oh JW, Lee HB, Kang IJ, Kim SW, Park KS, Kook MH, et al. The revised edition of korean calendar for allergenic pollens. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2012; 4:5–11.
14. Jeong KY, Park JW, Hong CS. House dust mite allergy in Korea: the most important inhalant allergen in current and future. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2012; 4:313–325.
15. Morris DO. Human allergy to environmental pet danders: a public health perspective. Vet Dermatol. 2010; 21:441–449.
16. Lockey RF. The myth of hypoallergenic dogs (and cats). J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012; 130:910–911.
17. Kim MH, Kim BN, Han TH. Cat-scratch disease: a case report and literature review of human and animal studies performed in Korea. Infect Chemother. 2012; 44:299–302.
18. Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 2011 Statistics Annual Report for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Sejong: Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;2011. p. 126–133.
19. Kerkhof M, Wijga AH, Brunekreef B, Smit HA, de Jongste JC, Aalberse RC, et al. Effects of pets on asthma development up to 8 years of age: the PIAMA study. Allergy. 2009; 64:1202–1208.
20. Custovic A, Simpson BM, Simpson A, Hallam CL, Marolia H, Walsh D, et al. Current mite, cat, and dog allergen exposure, pet ownership, and sensitization to inhalant allergens in adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003; 111:402–407.
21. Carlsten C, Brauer M, Dimich-Ward H, Dybuncio A, Becker AB, Chan-Yeung M. Combined exposure to dog and indoor pollution: incident asthma in a high-risk birth cohort. Eur Respir J. 2011; 37:324–330.
22. Choi MH, Kwon EM, Kim HB, Kim CK. Sensitization to inhalant allergens and its association with allergic diseases in preschool children. Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012; 32:176–182.
23. Lee JW, Choi GS, Kim JE, Jin HJ, Kim JH, Ye YM, et al. Changes in sensitization rates to pollen allergens in allergic patients in the southern part of Gyeonggi province over the last 10 years. Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011; 31:33–40.
24. Park SH, Lim DH, Son BK, Kim JH, Song YE, Oh IB, et al. Sensitization rates of airborne pollen and mold in children. Korean J Pediatr. 2012; 55:322–329.
25. Yang HJ, Jeon YH, Min TK, Son BS, Park KJ, Moon JY, et al. The impact of climate change on aeroalleregen and pediatric allergic diseases. J Korean Med Assoc. 2011; 54:971–978.
26. Oh JW, Kang IJ, Kim SW, Kook MH, Kim BS, Cheong JT, et al. The association between the concentration of pollen and outbreak of pollinosis in childhood. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2009; 19:4–11.
27. Oh JW, Kang IJ, Kim SW, Kook MH, Kim BS, Shin KS, et al. The correlation between increased sensitization rate to weeds in children and the annual increase in weed pollen in Korea. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2006; 16:114–121.