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

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 (), , weed and tree pollen mixtures, as well as cat and dog dander through ImmunoCAP test.

RESULTS

was the most common sensitizing aeroallergen (45.9%) during the 10-year span. The sensitization rate for tree pollen mixture ( for trend <0.001), weed pollen mixtures ( for trend <0.001), dog dander ( for trend=0.025), and cat dander ( 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 ( for trend=0.013). Compared with children without sensitization to , those with sensitization to showed higher sensitization rates to other aeroallergens ( 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 are likely to be sensitized to other aeroallergens as well.