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Published on: August 7, 2017
[Occurrence of atopy in asthmatic children]
Iwona Grzelewska-Rzymowska1, Anna Kowejsza, Małgorzata Górska-Ciebiada
1Kierownik Kliniki Gruźlicy, Chorób i Nowotworów Płuc IMW Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lodzi.
Insights
Asthma in children is strongly linked to atopy, with 88% of cases showing an allergic background. Many also suffer from other allergic conditions like allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergology
- Immunology
Context:
- Childhood asthma prevalence has risen significantly over the past 30 years.
- Atopy is a recognized predisposing factor for asthma development.
- Understanding the link between atopy and childhood asthma is crucial for effective management.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of atopy in children diagnosed with asthma.
- To assess the association between asthma and other allergic conditions in pediatric patients.
- To identify common allergens contributing to atopy in asthmatic children.
Summary:
- A study examined 24 children (3-7 years) with asthma and 26 with bronchitis.
- Methods included allergic history, skin prick tests, IgE levels, eosinophil counts, and spirometry.
- Results indicated an atopic background in 88% of asthmatic children, with allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis being most common. Sensitization to house dust, house dust mites, and grass pollen was prevalent. Atopic features were also observed in children with recurrent bronchitis.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant role of atopy in childhood asthma, informing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Suggests a need for comprehensive allergy screening in children with asthma and recurrent respiratory issues.
- Provides data on common allergen sensitization patterns in pediatric asthma, aiding in environmental control recommendations.
Abstract:
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases among children. The prevalence of asthma among adult and children has systematically increased for the last thirty years. It was hypothesized that atopy was a strong background predisposing to asthma. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of atopy in children suffering from asthma. Two groups of children were examined. The study group consisted of 24 children aged 3-7 suffering from asthma and 26 children with bronchitis. Data about each patient's personal and family allergic history were collected. Each child had skin prick tests with common allergens made, total and specific IgE level was measured and blood eosinophil count and spirometry were performed. The result showed that asthma in 88% of the children had an atopic background. Above 70% of the children had allergic diseases other than asthma--the most common was allergic rhinitis (54%) and atopic dermatitis (37.5%). Skin tests revealed that the examined children were mostly sensitized to the allergens of house dust (85.7%), house dust mite (66.6%), and grass pollen (33.3%). Atopic features were also found in children suffering from recurrent bronchitis.
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