title: Prevalence of inhaled antigen sensitization and nasal eosinophils in Japanese children under two years old.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The increasingly younger age of onset of allergic rhinitis (AR) has recently become a problem. This study examined the prevalence of inhaled antigen sensitization and nasal eosinophils in children younger than two years old, with measurement of the serum concentrations of aeroallergen-specific IgE antibodies to house dust mites, cat fur, and Japanese cedar pollen, measurement of nasal eosinophil counts, and a questionnaire administered to the children's parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were a group of healthy children undergoing 18-month infant health checks provided by the local government, and sick children younger than two years old at the pediatric hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 408 healthy infants, 44 (10.7%) had antigen-specific IgE antibodies, 29 (7.1%) had nasal eosinophils, and eight (2.0%) had both specific IgE antibodies and nasal eosinophils. Nasal assessment revealed that 125 children had rhinorrhea. Of the infants who showed both sensitization to antigens and nasal eosinophils, six (1.5%) had confirmed rhinorrhea. Among 186 sick children younger than two years old at the pediatric hospital, aeroallergen-specific IgE antibodies were detected in five (2.6%). The presence of nasal eosinophils was confirmed in six children (3.2%), which percentage was smaller than that of the healthy group. No infant had either sensitization to antigens or nasal eosinophils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings described above indicate that the minimum prevalence of AR might be 1.5% in 18-month-old children and that around 10% of affected children have aeroallergen-specific IgE antibodies in Japan. The incidence of AR in young children might increase further.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Sensory and Locomotor Medicine, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Fukui, 23 Shimoaizuki, Matsuoka, Yoshida, Fukui 910-1193, Japan. fukuoka@u-fukui.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Yusei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujieda
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D017677:Age Distribution; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000941:Antigens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E