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[Allergic sensitization profile in 0-5 year old children with wheezing and/or atopic dermatitis]
I Carvajal Urueña1, C Díaz Vázquez, A Cano Garcinuño
1Centro de Salud La Ería, Oviedo, Asturias, España. icarvajalu@telefonica.net
Insights
A significant number of young children with allergy-like symptoms show IgE sensitization. Factors like sex, age, feeding type, and geographic location influence sensitization risks in Spanish children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergology
- Immunology
- Environmental Health
Context:
- Allergic diseases are common in childhood.
- Limited data exists on IgE sensitization profiles in young children with allergic symptoms.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence and types of allergic sensitization in children aged 0-5 with wheezing and/or atopic dermatitis.
- To identify demographic and environmental factors associated with allergic sensitization.
Summary:
- A study of 468 children in Spain found allergic sensitization in 32.4% with wheezing, 54.8% with atopic dermatitis, and 39.2% with both.
- Sensitization risk was higher in males, older children (3-5 years), and those in continental geoclimatic areas.
- Breastfeeding was associated with lower sensitization risk compared to infant formula.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant prevalence of allergic sensitization in young children presenting with common allergic symptoms.
- Reveals geoclimatic variations in sensitization to specific inhalant and food allergens in Spain.
- Provides valuable data for targeted allergy prevention and management strategies in pediatric primary care.
Background:
Although allergic diseases are frequent in childhood, few studies have characterised the IgE sensitization profile among young children with allergic-like symptoms.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence and the type of allergic sensitization, as well as the demographic and environmental factors related to both characteristics, among 0-5 year old children presenting with wheezing and/or atopic dermatitis.
Methods:
Collaborative cross-over study developed in the paediatric setting of 20 Spanish Primary Health Care Centres. An allergology evaluation including blood determination of specific IgE antibodies to common inhalant and food allergens was performed on 468 children who presented with wheezing and/or atopic dermatitis.
Results:
Allergic sensitization was detected in 32.4% of the children with wheezing (95% confidence interval, 95%CI, 26.3-38.6%), in 54.8% of the children who had atopic dermatitis (95%CI, 42.1-67.6%) and in 39.2% of the children with both processes (95%CI, 32.0-46.4%). The risk of allergic sensitization was sex related (male versus female adjusted odds ratio, OR(A), 1.91, 95%CI, 1.24-2.95), and also related to the age (3-5 versus 0-2 year old OR(A) 1.96, 95%CI, 1.27-3.0), type of early feeding (maternal milk versus infant formula OR(A) 0.51, 95%CI, 0.31-0.84) and geoclimatic area (OR(A) Continental versus Atlantic 2.26, 95%CI, 1.30-3.93). Compared to the Atlantic area, the Continental area the sensitization was lower to mites (OR(A) 0.16, 95%CI, 0.07-0.36) and higher to grass (OR(A) 4.65, 95%CI 1.99-10.86), cow milk (OR(A) 5.17, 95%CI, 1.71-15.62) and egg (OR(A) 5.26, 95%CI, 2.04-13.62), whereas in the Mediterranean area the sensitization was lower to mites (OR(A) 0.29, 95%CI, 0.13-0.64) and higher to cow milk (OR(A) 3.81, 95%CI, 1.20-12.14) and egg (OR(A) 5.24, 95%CI, 1.94-14.20).
Conclusion:
A significant proportion of small children treated at the paediatric primary health care centres due to wheezing and/or atopic dermatitis had allergic sensitization. There appears to be a geoclimatic variation in the prevalence of sensitization to inhalant and food allergens among young children with allergic like symptoms who live in Spain.
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