Atopy and house dust mite sensitization as risk factors for asthma in children.
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.
Shin
Jung-Wook
JW
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.
Sue
Ju-Hee
JH
Song
Tae-Won
TW
Kim
Kyung-Won
KW
Kim
Eun-Soo
ES
Sohn
Myung Hyun
MH
Kim
Kyu-Earn
KE
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
D004391:Dust