Aeroallergen Sensitivity of Atopic Children in Alanya Region

Aim: It is important to identify allergens in reducing disease-related symptoms and improving quality of life in the allergic diseases. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of aeroallergens in allergic patients in our region.

Method: 1078 patients (2-18 years) who applied to the pediatric allergy immunology outpatient clinic between September 2017- March 2018 were included to the study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of 642 patients with at least one allergic sensitization in the skin prick test were evaluated retrospectively. Total IgE levels, peripheral eosinophil counts in the blood, aeroallergen sensitivities in skin prick test were evaulated from the patient’s files. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat Medical Faculty.

Results: In 642 of the patients (59.5%), a positive response was observed against at least one aeroallergen. Among patients, 34.8% had asthma, 73.7% had allergic rhinitis, 12.6% had atopic dermatitis, and 3% had chronic urticaria. 24.8% of the patients (159) had more than one allergic disease. When the evaulation of the patients with positive skin prick test, 57.3% were male and 42.7% were female. The mean age was 8.49 +/- 4.15 years. The sensitivity of house dust mites was the most common (76.1%). In the second and third frequency, molds (51.8% Alternaria alternata, 41.7% Claudosporum herbarum) and grass and cereal pollen (39.8%) sensitivity were observed. Other determined aeroallergen sensitivity frequencies were; weed pollen mixture (24.6%), trees pollen mixture (21.7%), cockroach (17.8%), cat hair (31.2%), olive tree (20%). The mean serum total IgE level was 215.6 IU/ml and the mean eosinophil count was 410.63/mm³.

Conclusion: Detection of responsible allergens is important to control symptoms and to give the chance the course of the disease with immunotherapy in the selected cases.