Dynamic Changes in Ethiological Structure of Pollen Sensitization in Children With Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis is the leading nosology among allergies. According to reports provided by scientists from all over the world, in recent years between 10% and 40% of the world's population have suffered from allergic rhinitis. Despite the age and sex differences, this disease usually has a negative impact on the patients' quality of life. Therefore, the issues of early diagnosis and the organization of timely therapeutic and preventive measures are still remaining relevant. The aim of this study is to investigate the spectrum of sensitization in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis using retrospective data, followed by the development of a regional panel of allergens for skin prick-test. To investigate the dynamic changes of the etiological structure, 892 archived medical records of patients who were examined and treated at the Paediatric Department (allergy beds) of Poltava Regional Children's Clinical Hospital from 2010 to 2020 were reviewed. The highest proportion of patients with sensitization to weed pollen was 86.6% of the total number of cases examined, with ragweed, wormwood and cyclachaena taking the leading positions. Almost equal sensitization to cereal grass was found in nearly every third child, including maize (37.2%), timothy (32.5%), meadow fescue (34.0%) and ryegrass (33.9%). The dynamics of hypersensitivity to tree pollen had an unstable variability with a relatively low numerical load. One in 5 patients was found to be sensitive to birch (22.6%), alder (22.9%) and one in 10 to hazel. The volume of work carried out enabled to assess in detail the features of sensitization in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis over an eleven-year period and to identify the most common aeroallergens. The data obtained have an important diagnostic value, as they make it possible to isolate and include the leading causative pollen allergens in the diagnostic allergy panel, taking into account regional characteristics.