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Prevalence of aeroallergen sensitization in children in Northern China
Sainan Bian1,2,3, Wenjing Zhu4, Kai Guan1,2,3
1Allergy Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
Insights
Mold and animal dander sensitization are key risk factors for childhood asthma. Early life mold exposure is significant, with allergen prevalence changing by age. Monitoring these sensitivities is crucial for asthma prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Aeroallergen sensitization is a growing concern in pediatric populations.
- Understanding age-specific allergen prevalence is vital for early diagnosis and management of allergic diseases.
- Identifying risk factors for asthma development in children is a public health priority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze aeroallergen sensitization rates in children across different age groups, sexes, and disease categories.
- To describe the evolving trends of aeroallergen sensitization with age.
- To investigate the specific risk factors contributing to asthma sensitization in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 5465 children (<18 years) with suspected atopic diseases.
- Utilized skin prick testing (SPT) data collected between January 2019 and November 2021.
- Employed logistic regression to identify sensitization risk factors for asthma.
Main Results:
- 67.8% of enrolled children were sensitized to at least one aeroallergen.
- Mold was the predominant allergen before age 4, shifting to weed pollen after age 4, and tree pollen after age 6.
- Sensitization to mold (OR: 1.4), animal dander (OR: 1.6), and polysensitization (OR: 1.4) were identified as significant risk factors for asthma.
Conclusions:
- Mold sensitization is a critical factor in early childhood allergic diseases.
- The prevalence of specific aeroallergens varies significantly with age in children.
- Children sensitized to mold, animal dander, or experiencing polysensitization require vigilant monitoring for asthma development.
Objective:
This study aimed to analyze the sensitization rate of different aeroallergens in children of different age, sex, and disease groups, describe the changing trend of different aeroallergens in different ages, and analyze the sensitization risk factors for asthma.
Methods:
Children (<18 years old) with suspected atopic diseases who visited the Department of Allergy of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics and underwent a skin prick test (SPT) were retrospectively enrolled from January 2019 to November 2021.
Results:
A total of 5465 patients (3514 boys, 1951 girls; mean age, 7 ± 3 years) were enrolled. Of them, 3703 patients (67.8%) were sensitized to at least one aeroallergen. Before 4 years of age, mold was the most prevalent aeroallergen (103/380 [27.1%]), whereas after 4 years of age, weed pollen was the most prevalent aeroallergen. After 6 years of age, tree pollen became the second most prevalent aeroallergen. After 12 years of age, the sensitization rate of indoor aeroallergens was lower than that of outdoor aeroallergens. Logistic regression showed that sensitization to mold (odds ratio [OR]:1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-1.7, p < 0.001), animal dander (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.4-1.9, p < 0.001), and polysensitization (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-1.8, p = 0.038) were potential sensitization risk factors for asthma.
Conclusions:
Mold is an important allergen in early life. Different kinds of allergens affect different age groups. Patients who are sensitized to mold or animal dander or experience polysensitization should be carefully monitored for asthma risk.
