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Sensitization profile in differential diagnosis: allergic asthma vs. chronic (nonspecific) cough syndrome

Vlado Drkulec1, Boro Nogalo, Marija Perica

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, County Hospital Pozega, Pozega, Croatia.

Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
|May 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Diagnosing allergic asthma in children with chronic cough can be challenging. Serum total IgE, specific IgE (sIgE), and skin prick tests (SPT) help differentiate allergic asthma from non-specific respiratory symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Diagnostic Immunology

Background:

  • Distinguishing allergic asthma from non-specific respiratory symptoms in children with chronic cough is clinically challenging.
  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management and treatment of pediatric respiratory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of serum total IgE, specific IgE (sIgE), and skin prick tests (SPT) in differentiating allergic asthma from chronic cough in children.
  • To identify the most effective biomarkers for diagnosing allergic asthma in this pediatric subgroup.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 131 children (median age 7.5 years) divided into allergic asthma (N=71) and chronic cough (N=60) groups.
  • Standard allergological examination including SPT and measurement of total IgE and sIgE against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and Phleum pratense.

Main Results:

  • Elevated total IgE and sIgE levels were significantly higher in children with allergic asthma compared to those with chronic cough (P=0.0001).
  • Specific IgE (sIgE) demonstrated superior diagnostic value over total IgE in asthmatic children, with Der p sIgE showing the best efficiency.
  • Skin prick tests (SPT) exhibited 78.82% sensitivity and 91.3% specificity, with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus yielding the highest accuracy.

Conclusions:

  • The combination of total IgE, sIgE levels, and SPT effectively distinguishes allergic asthma from chronic cough in children, although some overlap exists.
  • A comprehensive allergy investigation is recommended to confirm the diagnosis of allergic asthma in children presenting with chronic cough.
Abstract

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