title: Age-specific prevalence of outdoor and indoor aeroallergen sensitization in Boston.
abstract: Questions exist regarding the appropriate age for referral of an atopic child to an allergist for environmental skin prick testing. This study evaluates age-specific prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens from infancy through adolescence. A total of 1394 patients were skin tested, with 57.2% being sensitized to at least 1 aeroallergen. In children younger than 2, the authors found that 26.5% were sensitized, including to dogs (15.5%) and cats (9.2%). Additionally, tree sensitization was demonstrated in the youngest age group (7.8% at 0-2 years; 17.1% at 2-4 years), including in 3 infants less than 1 year old. Sensitization rates to dust mites and trees were the highest in all ages above 4 years, with a peak tree sensitization of 56.4% at 10 to 12 years and a peak dust mite sensitization of 56.8% in the >12 group. Overall, the authors observed increasing sensitization rates throughout childhood for indoor and outdoor aeroallergens (P < .001). Aeroallergen sensitization begins at a young age and increases during childhood.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Boston, MA, USA. william.sheehan@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Pitud A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rangsithienchai
authors.forename: Sachin N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Baxi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gardynski
authors.forename: Apinya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bharmanee
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Phipatanakul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004285:Dogs; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012882:Skin Tests; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens