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Published on: August 7, 2017

Association of atopy to asthma severity and medication use in children

Christina D Schwindt1, Thomas Tjoa, Joshua N Floro

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital, University of California, Irvine, USA. cschwind@uci.edu

The Journal of Asthma : Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
|September 6, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Allergies to mold and pollens are linked to more severe childhood asthma. Increased allergen sensitivity in children correlates with higher medication needs and more asthma symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Aeroallergens are known asthma triggers, but their link to childhood asthma severity is unclear.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for managing pediatric asthma effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between allergen sensitization and asthma severity in children.
  • To determine if specific allergens like mold and pollens influence asthma severity.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 114 asthmatic children in Southern California was followed for 8 weeks.
  • Allergen sensitization was assessed using skin tests.
  • Asthma severity was measured by controller medication use, beta-agonist use, and symptom frequency.

Main Results:

  • A positive association was found between the number of positive skin tests and increased controller medication and beta-agonist use.
  • Allergy to mold and pollens was significantly linked to increased asthma severity.
  • Mold allergy specifically correlated with a higher frequency of asthma symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • The degree of atopy and specific reactivity to mold and pollens significantly impact asthma severity in children.
  • Identifying specific allergen sensitivities can aid in tailoring asthma management strategies for pediatric patients.

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