ACAAI: Sensitization to Allergens Not Up for Children With Asthma

From 1999 to 2014, there was no increase seen in prevalence of sensitization to any pollen or allergen

MONDAY, Nov. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- For children with asthma, there was no increase in allergic sensitization to inhalant allergens from 1999 to 2014, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, held from Nov. 4 to 8 in New Orleans.

Paula Mohyi, M.D., a practicing internist in Los Angeles, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine whether sensitizations to seasonal and perennial allergens increased among children with asthma from 1999 to 2014. Participants received skin prick tests to dust mites, cat, dog, cockroach, tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen; the percent positivity for these allergens was determined each year. A total of 123,209 tests were performed for 5,874 unique patients over the study period.

All patients were diagnosed with asthma by an asthma specialist. The researchers found that compared with other allergens, more patients were sensitized to cockroach and dust mite. Over the 15-year study period, there was no increase observed in the prevalence of allergic sensitization to any specific perennial or seasonal allergen. Furthermore, there was no increased prevalence of sensitization to any pollen or allergen.

"We were somewhat surprised at the results as we expected there would be an increase in the number of kids with asthma who were sensitized to pollen and other allergens," a coauthor said in a statement. "Between 80 to 90 percent of children with asthma have allergy triggers, which is why it''s important for children with asthma to be tested for allergies."

Abstract No. P022

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