High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country

Clausen, Michael; Kristjánsson, Sigurður; Haraldsson, Ásgeir; Björkstén, Bengt

doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x

Cited by 24 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…However, IgE concentrations have become routine clinical parameters in allergological diagnostics (Weinmayr et al 2010). We chose total IgE as a marker of general IgE synthesis, and IgE specific to grass ( Phleum pretense ) as an important marker of sensitization, because grass pollen is ubiquitous and has previously been demonstrated to be the most common allergen in other North Atlantic environments (Clausen et al 2008; Krause et al 2002b). For grass pollen, we found 39 positives, corresponding to a sensitization rate of 8.3%, which is slightly lower than found in Western Greenland at 5–18 years of age; this difference is consistent with the lower age of our study population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Allergy and Sensitization during Childhood Associated with Prenatal and Lactational Exposure to Marine Pollutants

Grandjean

Poulsen²,

Heilmann³

et al. 2010

Environ Health Perspect

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BackgroundBreast-feeding may affect the risk of developing allergy during childhood and may also cause exposure to immunotoxicants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are of concern as marine pollutants in the Faroe Islands and the Arctic region.ObjectivesThe objective was to assess whether sensitization and development of allergic disease is associated with duration of breast-feeding and prenatal or postnatal exposures to PCBs and methylmercury.MethodsA cohort of 656 singleton births was formed in the Faroe Islands during 1999–2001. Duration of breast-feeding and history of asthma and atopic dermatitis were recorded at clinical examinations at 5 and 7 years of age. PCB and mercury concentrations were determined in blood samples obtained at parturition and at follow-up. Serum from 464 children (71%) at 7 years of age was analyzed for total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and grass-specific IgE.ResultsThe total IgE concentration in serum at 7 years of age was positively associated both with the concomitant serum PCB concentration and with the duration of breast-feeding. However, the effect only of the latter was substantially attenuated in a multivariate analysis. A raised grass-specific IgE concentration compatible with sensitization was positively associated with the duration of breast-feeding and inversely associated with prenatal methylmercury exposure. However, a history of asthma or atopic dermatitis was not associated with the duration of breast-feeding, although children with atopic dermatitis had lower prenatal PCB exposures than did nonallergic children.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that developmental exposure to immunotoxicants may both increase and decrease the risk of allergic disease and that associations between breast-feeding and subsequent allergic disease in children may, at least in part, reflect lactational exposure to immunotoxic food contaminants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the latter assay, allergen-specific units exceeding 0.35 kUA/L indicated sensitization. Grass pollen is ubiquitous and seems to be the most frequent sensitizing allergen in both Greenland and Iceland (Clausen et al 2008; Krause et al 2002b). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allergy and Sensitization during Childhood Associated with Prenatal and Lactational Exposure to Marine Pollutants

Grandjean

Poulsen²,

Heilmann³

et al. 2010

Environ Health Perspect

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“…Long-term studies dealing with the prevalence of asthma and IgE-mediated allergies show a growing number of allergies and asthmatic individuals in developed countries. Association of ‘the Western lifestyle’ with higher prevalence of allergy in children [27,28] and adults [29,30,31] is assumed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Bet v1, Bet v2 and Bet v4 Specific IgE Antibodies in the Sera of Children and Adult Patients Allergic to Birch Pollen: Evaluation of Different IgE Reactivity Profiles Depending on Age and Local Sensitization

Sekerkova

Poláčková²

2010

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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Background: Birch pollen belongs to the major allergen triggers in the spring season in Europe. Our rapidly expanding knowledge of the allergenic molecules enables us to better recognize the individual differences between the reactivity of specific IgE antibodies of individual patients and allergic populations living in various regions of the world. Method: In a group of birch pollen-allergic patients living in the Czech Republic (107 children, 71 adults) we detected the presence of Bet v1, Bet v2 and Bet v4 specific IgE antibodies. Results: Bet v1 specific IgE antibodies were identified in most patients without any significant differences between children and adults. Bet v2 positivity was found more frequently in the group of children than in adults (p = 0.02). In most adult patients Bet v1 monospecificity was more expressed as compared to the pediatric group. More allergic subjects reacted against minor birch allergens in the pediatric group (p = 0.02). Specific IgE antibodies against Bet v1 were not detected in 10% of the tested patients. In this group, 5% of birch pollen-allergic patients were found to not have specific IgE antibodies against any of the tested recombinant allergens. Conclusion: The investigation of specific IgE antibodies against Bet v1, Bet v2 and Bet v4 demonstrated that the specificity of allergen-induced IgE antibodies in birch pollen-allergic individuals is dependent not only on the region in which a patient lives but also on age. Especially in children, there is an increase in the number of allergic subjects who do not react exclusively against the major allergen. The question is whether some allergen-specific IgE antibodies will disappear depending on age or on the contrary whether their synthesis will be increased.

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“…Despite Iceland being a low allergen country with the absence of dust mites, low pet ownership and relatively low pollen counts (Clausen et al . ), rates among school children with asthma in Iceland are 9% (Clausen et al . , Gudbjörnsdottir et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The international school nurse asthma project: barriers related to asthma management in schools

Svavarsdóttir

Garwick

Anderson

et al. 2012

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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Aim This paper is a report of an international study of barriers to asthma care from the perspectives of school nurses in Reykjavik, Iceland and St. Paul, Minnesota, in the context of their schools, communities and countries. Background Globally, asthma affects the health and school performance of many adolescents. School nurses play a key role by providing care to adolescents with asthma in school settings. Understanding universal barriers to asthma management in schools is important for developing interventions that are effective in multiple societal contexts. Design Exploratory, descriptive study. Methods Parallel studies were conducted from September 2008 - January 2009, through six focus groups among school nurses (N=32, in Reykjavik n=17 and St. Paul n=15) who were managing asthma in adolescents. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim in English or Icelandic. The Icelandic transcripts were translated into English. Descriptive content analytic techniques were used to systematically identify and categorize types of barriers to asthma care. Results School nurses in both countries identified common barriers such as time constraints, communication challenges and school staff barriers. The primary difference was that St. Paul school nurses identified more socioeconomic and health access barriers than school nurses in Reykjavik. Conclusion Greater cultural and linguistic diversity and socioeconomic differences in the student population in St. Paul and lack of universal health care coverage in the U.S. contributed to school nurses’ need to focus more on asthma management than school nurses in Reykjavik, who were able to focus more on asthma prevention and education.

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High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country

Cited by 24 publications

References 28 publications

Allergy and Sensitization during Childhood Associated with Prenatal and Lactational Exposure to Marine Pollutants

Allergy and Sensitization during Childhood Associated with Prenatal and Lactational Exposure to Marine Pollutants

Detection of Bet v1, Bet v2 and Bet v4 Specific IgE Antibodies in the Sera of Children and Adult Patients Allergic to Birch Pollen: Evaluation of Different IgE Reactivity Profiles Depending on Age and Local Sensitization

The international school nurse asthma project: barriers related to asthma management in schools

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