Risk factors of allergic sensitization in preschool children with chronic cough

Eun Seob Lee; Ji Seok Bang; Yeon Joung Oh; Jung Won Lee; Tae-Jung Sung; Yong Ju Lee; Kon Hee Lee

doi:10.4168/aard.2015.3.2.105

Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.3(2) > 1059079

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Lee, Bang, Oh, Lee, Sung, Lee, and Lee: Risk factors of allergic sensitization in preschool children with chronic cough

Original Article

Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2015; 3(2): 105-108.

Published online: 24 March 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2015.3.2.105

Risk factors of allergic sensitization in preschool children with chronic cough

Eun Seob Lee, Ji Seok Bang, Yeon Joung Oh, Jung Won Lee, Tae-Jung Sung, Yong Ju Lee, Kon Hee Lee

Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: Yong Ju Lee. Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, 1 Singil-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-950, Korea. Tel: +82-2-829-5142, Fax: +82-2-845-4469, pedalllee@gmail.com

Received 11 July 2014 Revised 21 September 2014 Accepted 22 October 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

Chronic cough is one of the major symptoms of asthma and allergic sensitization and may appear prior to the onset of asthma. The object of this study was to investigate the risk of allergic sensitization in preschool children with chronic cough.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 99 preschool children presenting with chronic cough but not with allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, recurrent wheezing, or lower respiratory tract infection between November 2011 and July 2013.

Results

Fifty-four children (55%) were sensitized at least one of the following inhalant allergens: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, cockroach, Alternaria alternata, dog dander, and cat epithelium. Children with allergic sensitization had a higher blood total IgE levels transformed by common logarithm (1.9±0.6 IU/mL vs. 1.3±0.5 IU/mL, P<0.001) and eosinophils (3.7%±2.5% vs. 2.7%±2.0%, P=0.043), more frequent parental history of allergy (68% vs. 48%, P=0.044) and less frequent history of breast milk feeding (68% vs. 86%, P=0.041) than those without.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the ratio of allergic sensitization may be 50% or more in preschool children with chronic cough and that parental history of allergy and formula milk feeding may be associated with allergic sensitization.

Keywords: Cough, Preschool child, Asthma

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Subjects characteristics

Characteristic	Atopy	Nonatopy	P-value
No. of subjects	54 (55)	45 (45)
Age (yr)	4.6 ± 1.4	4.5 ± 1.3	0.721
Sex (male/female)	34/20	29/16	0.879
Body mass index (kg/m²)	16.4 ± 2.6	16.5 ± 2.4	0.914
Sinusitis	40 (77)	32 (73)	0.742
Cesarean section delivery	20 (40)	18 (41)	0.763
Prematurity	7 (14)	6 (14)	0.957
Breast milk feeding	34 (68)	37 (86)	0.041
Presence of siblings	9 (17)	8 (19)	0.884
History of allergy^*	27 (51)	14 (32)	0.057
Parental history of allergy	36 (68)	21 (48)	0.044
Secondhand smoking	31 (59)	24 (56)	0.685
Household pets	5 (9)	1 (2)	0.151
Blood eosinophil (/µL)	2.4 ± 0.3	2.2 ± 0.3	0.078
Blood eosinophil (%)^†	3.7 ± 2.5	2.7 ± 2.0	0.043
Total IgE (IU/mL)^†	1.9 ± 0.6	1.3 ± 0.5	< 0.001
Vitamin D (ng/mL)	19.8 ± 7.0	19.3 ± 7.2	0.883

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

^*History of allergy includes asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, food allergy, and bronchiolitis. ^†Values are transformed by common logarithm (log).

Table 2

Association between allergic sensitization and subjects characteristics

Characteristic	Crude OR (95% CI)	Adjusted OR^* (95% CI)
Cesarean section delivery	0.96 (0.42-2.20)	0.79 (0.30-2.02)
Prematurity	1.01 (0.31-3.26)	0.48 (0.11-2.03)
Breast milk feeding	0.35 (0.12-0.98)	0.28 (0.07-0.89)
History of allergy	2.25 (0.97-5.11)	2.32 (0.89-5.99)
Parental history of allergy	2.32 (1.02-5.30)	2.96 (1.12-7.86)
Secondhand smoking	1.12 (0.50-2.52)	0.89 (0.30-2.40)

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

^*Adjusted for age, sex, cesarean section delivery, prematurity, breast milk feeding, history of allergy, parental history of allergy, and secondhand smoking.

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