Trends of Sensitization to Inhalant Allergens in Korean Children Over the Last 10 Years

Abstract

Purpose: Climate and lifestyle changes increase an individual's susceptibility to various allergens and also the incidence of allergic diseases. We aimed to examine the changes in sensitization rate for aeroallergens over a 10-year period in Korean children. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4493 children who visited the allergy clinic at a tertiary hospital in Korea for allergic rhinitis or asthma from January 2009 to December 2018. The serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were measured to confirm the sensitization against Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae), Alternaria, weed and tree pollen mixtures, as well as cat and dog dander through ImmunoCAP test. Results: D. farinae was the most common sensitizing aeroallergen (45.9%) during the 10-year span. The sensitization rate for tree pollen mixture (p for trend <0.001), weed pollen mixtures (p for trend <0.001), dog dander (p for trend=0.025), and cat dander (p for trend=0.003) showed ascending trends during the 10-year study period. Furthermore, the sensitization rate for multiple allergens (≥2) in 2018 increased significantly compared to that in 2009 (p for trend=0.013). Compared with children without sensitization to D. farinae, those with sensitization to D. farinae showed higher sensitization rates to other aeroallergens (p for interaction <0.001). Conclusion: Children's sensitization rate to cat and dog dander and weed and tree pollen mixtures significantly increased during the 10-year period in Korea. Children with sensitization to D. farinae are likely to be sensitized to other aeroallergens as well.

Environmental and sensitization variations among asthma and/or rhinitis patients between 2008 and 2018 in China

“…Increased sensitization to common inhaled allergens was seen in other countries including Germany and Korea, 13,14 which were in agreement with the results of the present study, suggesting a worldwide trend. These changes in sensitization rates may be attributed to the adoption of modern lifestyle, economic development, as well as climate change which increased allergenicity of pollen.…”

Allergic Sensitization Pattern in the Korean Dermatologic Patients

“…The average number of positive allergens has not changed over time although the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased. These findings are different from those of the previous study that reported an increase in the rate of multiple allergen sensitizations in Korean children 31 . As the subjects in this study are adults, they are already exposed and accustomed to the external environment changes and inhaled allergens, resulting in little additional sensitization to the allergens compared to children.…”

Analysis of Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Rhinitis in Guangzhou, China

“…In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma who sensitized against at least one of the common aeroallergens in Guangzhou. Although there are geographical differences, house dust mite sensitization can be said to be characteristic of all atopic populations in Asia [13,14]. The prevalence of HDM sensitization in atopic individuals in some Asian countries have been reported rates of between 60% and 80% [15].…”

“…However, signi cant differences in age and family allergy history were observed between AR and AR&AS. The median age (IQR) of the AR patients was 28 (14,35), and 61.29% (57/93) AR patients had a family allergy history while only 33.90% (60/177) in AR&AS patients (P =0.001) (Table 2).…”