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Calculating the prevalence of atopy in children

Jesús Garde1, Daniel Hervás, Nuria Marco

  • 1Department of Pediatric Allergy, Elche General University Hospital, Elche, Spain.

Allergologia Et Immunopathologia
|September 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This study found that 20% of children referred for drug allergy were atopic, with prevalence increasing with age. Allergen sensitization was very high in older children with asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Epidemiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Atopy is a significant risk factor for common allergic diseases in children, including asthma, rhinitis, atopic eczema, and urticaria.
  • Previous studies on pediatric atopy prevalence show considerable variation, limiting reliable extrapolation of findings.
  • This study aimed to determine atopy and related disease prevalence in a pediatric population using a novel methodology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To calculate the prevalence of atopy, defined by allergen sensitization, in a pediatric cohort.
  • To assess the prevalence of atopy-related diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, and atopic eczema.
  • To analyze the characteristics and age-related trends of atopy and associated conditions.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study was conducted on children initially referred for suspected drug allergy.
  • The drug allergy diagnosis was ultimately discarded for the majority of the study participants.
  • Prevalence of atopy (allergen sensitization) and specific allergic diseases were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Of 342 patients, 325 (95%) had their drug allergy diagnosis discarded. Overall atopy prevalence was 20% in the studied pediatric sample.
  • Atopy prevalence and allergen sensitization increased significantly with age, from 42.3% in 0-3 year olds to 93.3% in 7-14 year olds (p < 0.0001).
  • Prevalence of asthma was 11.5% (0-3 yrs) decreasing to 7% (7-14 yrs), while rhinoconjunctivitis prevalence reached 20% in the 7-14 year old group.

Conclusions:

  • The employed methodology appears suitable for estimating atopy prevalence in pediatric populations.
  • A very high prevalence of allergen sensitization was observed in children aged 7-14 years with co-existing asthma and/or rhinoconjunctivitis.
  • Findings highlight the significant burden of atopy and related respiratory allergies in older children.
Abstract

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