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Different Aspects of COVID-19: "Stay at Home" Increased Cat and Mite Sensitivity in Preschool Children
Cagla Karavaizoglu1, Ayse Suleyman1, Kazım Okan Dolu1
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
During the COVID-19 pandemic, allergic sensitization to indoor allergens like house dust mites and pet dander significantly increased in children with asthma. This rise is linked to lifestyle changes and more time spent indoors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Increased indoor allergen exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic may alter allergic sensitization patterns.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for managing pediatric asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of pandemic-related lifestyle changes on allergen sensitivity in children with asthma.
- To compare allergen sensitization rates before and after lockdown measures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from asthmatic children aged 5 and younger.
- Comparison of two groups: those tested within 12 months of lockdown (n=112) and those tested before lockdown (n=224).
Main Results:
- Significantly higher sensitization rates to house dust mites (HDM) and animal dander (cats, dogs) were observed in children tested after lockdown.
- The duration of lockdown was a significant risk factor for sensitization to HDM and animal allergens.
- Asthma attacks requiring systemic corticosteroids were more frequent in the group tested after lockdown.
Conclusions:
- Pandemic-related increases in indoor allergen exposure, particularly HDM and animal dander, significantly impacted sensitization in asthmatic children.
- Lifestyle shifts, including more time indoors and increased pet ownership, likely contributed to these findings.
- These changes highlight the need for updated asthma management strategies considering environmental allergen exposure.
Background:
Indoor allergen exposure and senitization is expected to increase significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this altered allergen exposure on allergen sensitivity patterns in children with asthma.
Methods:
Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings of asthmatic children aged 5 years and younger were assessed May 2019 to May 2020, 1 year after the start of lockdown measures. Those asthmatic children were compared with age- and sex-matched asthmatic peers assessed before the pandemic. Group I included asthmatic children who underwent skin testing within 12 months of the start of the lockdown (n = 112), while Group II included asthmatic children whose skin testing was done before the lockdown (n = 224).
Results:
A total of 336 preschool children diagnosed with asthma were evaluated. House dust mite (HDM) and animal dander (cat, dog) senitization rates were significantly higher in Group I than in Group II (66.1% vs. 42.9%; OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-4.1, p < 0.001 and 8.0% vs. 1.3%; OR: 6.4, CI: 1.7-24.2, p = 0.006, respectively). However, the number of asthma attacks requiring systemic corticosteroid treatment was higher in Group I than in Group II (p = 0.001). The duration of lockdown emerged as a significant risk factor for HDM senitization (p < 0.001, OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.6-4.1) and animal allergen senitization (p = 0.006, OR: 6.4, 95% CI: 1.7-27.3).
Conclusion:
During the pandemic, senitization to indoor allergens, including HDM and animal dander, increased significantly in asthmatic children. This may be attributed to changes in lifestyle, increased time spent indoors and increased pet ownership.
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