A Multicenter Study Assessing Risk Factors and Aeroallergens Sensitization Characteristics in Children with Self-Reported Allergic Rhinitis in China

Abstract

Background: Up to now, epidemiological studies on allergy rhinitis (AR) have primarily focused on determining the risk of disease in Chinese adults, with the majority of them designed by single centers, while cross-sectional and epidemiological data describing allergic sensitization in children with self-reported AR are scarce. Objective: This study was estimating of the latest information about the sensitization patterns and risk factors of clinical AR to develop effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of AR. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey between January 2020 and June 2021 involving children from seven cities in China who reported AR. A total of 762 children participated in this survey. To evaluate the risk factors and specific sensitization patterns of clinical AR through questionnaires and specific immunoglobulin E to 11 aeroallergens. Results: Of the 762 patients, 593 (77.8%) had at least one positive IgE level. Aged 7-14 years (OR 1.503, (95% CI 1.058-2.136), P = 0.023); With allergic conjunctivitis (OR 1.843, (95% CI 1.297-2.620), P = 0.001) and living in the Eastern (OR 1.802, (95% CI 1.263-2.573), P = 0.001) all elevated the risk of clinical AR associated with aeroallergens. The sensitization rates of D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae were higher than those of other allergens in the 0-6 and 7-14 years old age groups. The most common aeroallergens among self-reported children with AR in the eastern were D. farinae (74.9%) and D. pteronyssinus (74.3%), while in the western were mugwort (60.0%) and marguerite (56.6%). Majority of sIgE-positive subjects were sensitized to three or more of the tested pollen allergens in the Western (52.1%), compared with 5.7% in the Eastern. Conclusion:There was an apparent geographic variation in childhood allergies in China. Age factors also had strong impacts on the allergen sensitization rate of children, but these impacts differed across regions.

Sensitization to Furry Animals in Patients with Suspected Allergic Disease in China: A Multicenter Study

“…16 In this study, a total of 2377 patients with suspected allergic diseases from 11 provinces in China were enrolled for full quantitative sIgE detection of furry animal allergen including cat, dog and horse. Consistent with the literature, 15,18 this research found that cat dander was the predominant furry animal allergen in patients with suspected allergic disease, followed by dog and horse dander. Despite a significant increase in the prevalence of animal allergy, the results of this study showed that patients were mainly at low levels of sensitization (class 1-3).…”

“…Consistent with the literature, 15 , 18 this research found that cat dander was the predominant furry animal allergen in patients with suspected allergic disease, followed by dog and horse dander. Despite a significant increase in the prevalence of animal allergy, the results of this study showed that patients were mainly at low levels of sensitization (class 1–3).…”

“…For cat and dog dander, sensitization rates were significantly higher in Western than in Eastern, which also accords with our earlier observations. 18 However, the prevalence of horse sensitization appears to be slightly higher in the Eastern region than in Western, except in Yunnan Province, where the sensitization rate of the three animals was significantly higher than in the other provinces. The allergen sensitization pattern varies considerably in different countries and regions.…”

Associations of Four sensitization patterns revealed by Latent Class Analysis with Clinical symptoms: A multi-center study of China

“… 3 Previous studies have reported that house dust mite are common in the southern and eastern areas of China, 14 while pollen allergies are prevailing in the western and northern China. 15 , 16 In this study, we recruited all qualified patients with allergies from 13 medical centers that are distributed to four regions of China, including south, north, west and east areas. A total of 18 common allergens which covered house dust mite, german cockroach, aspergillus fumigatus, penicillium and 14 grass pollen allergens were utilized to perform SPT.…”

Common Allergens and Immune Responses Associated with Allergic Rhinitis in China

“… 25 A multicenter study reported the most common allergens in Eastern China to be D. farinae (74.9%) and D. pteronyssinus (74.3%), while in the West, they were mugwort (60.0%) and marguerite (56.6%). 26 The most common allergens in South China are house dust mites (28.1%), cockroaches (24.3%), shrimp (19.2%), crabs (15.5%), and egg whites (9.9%). 27 An analysis of allergen-specific IgE in serum samples from individuals based in Guangzhou, Southern China, revealed that D. pteronyssinus (85.0%) had the highest proportion of specific IgE, followed by D. farinae (83.5%), egg whites (19.3%), milk (14.6%), German cockroaches (14.2%) and ox-eye daisy (12.6%).…”