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[Natural history of pollinosis in childhood]
Insights
Pollen allergy affects nearly 8% of allergic children, with grass pollen being a primary trigger. Male predominance and spring birth are noted, and family history influences early symptom onset in pediatric pollinosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Context:
- Pollen allergy (pollinosis) is a significant health concern in children.
- Understanding epidemiological parameters is crucial for managing pediatric allergic diseases.
- Grass pollen hypersensitivity is prevalent in pediatric populations.
Purpose:
- To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pollen allergy in children.
- To determine the influence of epidemiological factors on the presentation of pediatric pollinosis.
- To identify common allergens and clinical manifestations in young allergic patients.
Summary:
- This study analyzed 200 pollen-allergic children, finding it represents 7.9% of pediatric allergies.
- Key findings include male predominance (70%), a spring birth prevalence (52%), and 100% grass pollen sensitivity.
- A family history of allergy was present in 76.5% of cases, with earlier symptom onset observed in those without a family history.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant burden of pollen allergy in children, particularly grass pollen sensitivity.
- Identifies key demographic and familial factors influencing pediatric pollinosis.
- Provides insights into the clinical spectrum of allergy in children, including respiratory, cutaneous, and digestive symptoms.
Abstract:
Out of 2.513 clinical files of allergic children, we have found 200 pollen-allergic patients, which represent 7.9% of the total allergic pathology in children, in our environment. We have studied in these 200, the most important epidemiological parameters and the influence that this can cause upon the characteristics of this disease. A male predominance has been found (70%) and it has been discovered that 52% of the total were born in spring (p less than 0.0005). An hundred per cent have shown grass-pollen sensitiveness and 52% have also shown other kinds of pollen hypersensitivity. It has been found familiar allergic background in 76.5% of the cases and in 32.5% familiar allergic history of pollinosis. Unexpectedly, those who were in lack of familiar allergic history began their clinical symptoms earlier; 51.06% before 6 years of age (p less than 0.05). Other kinds of allergic manifestations were found in 51%, being respiratory symptoms the most important (35.5%), followed by the cutaneous (23.5%) and digestive ones (10.5%). Allergy to drugs was found in 10.5%. The more frequent symptoms of pollinosis were in order of importance: rhinitis (86.5%), conjunctivitis (77%), asthma (48%), spasmodic cough (27.5%) and urticaria (4%). Asthma induced by grass-pollen hypersensitivity was equally suffered by the males as by the females, and this was more frequent among the patients who had previously suffered from non-pollinic respiratory allergies.