title: Atopy and house dust mite sensitization as risk factors for asthma in children.
abstract: Asthma is commonly described as an atopic disease in childhood, but some cases of this disorder do not fit this description. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of atopy, asthma, and sensitization to house dust mites in children with allergic symptoms. This study was performed at the Severance Hospital of Yonsei University with patients who visited the allergy clinic for evaluation of nonspecific upper respiratory symptoms, typical symptoms of asthma, or a general health workup. The patients were divided into three age groups: 0-3 years (group 1), 4-7 years (group 2), and 8-12 years (group 3). Of the 1,244 children examined, 844 (67.8%) were atopic and 400 (32.2%) were non-atopic. The frequency of atopy and asthma increased with age. Asthma was diagnosed in the same proportion (64%) of atopic and non-atopic children. As risk factors for asthma symptoms, the positive values of house dust mite (HDM) sensitivity were significantly increased in groups 1, 2, and 3 to 53.5%, 68.9%, and 80.2%, respectively. A significant difference between the percentage of asthmatics sensitized to HDM and that of asthmatics not sensitized to HDM was found only in group 3. In conclusion, asthma is related to atopy with increasing age, and house dust mite sensitization seems to be an important determinant of asthma in older children in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Biomolecule Secretion Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun- gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ju-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sue
authors.forename: Tae-Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Kyung-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Soo
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myung Hyun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Kyu-Earn
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004391:Dust