title: Analysis of allergens in 5 473 patients with allergic diseases in Harbin, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the allergic status to common inhalant allergens and food allergens in clinical patients in Harbin in northeastern China and provide evidence to develop the prevention strategy of allergic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected from 5 473 patients with clinical suspected allergic diseases seeking medical care in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. Among these patients, 2 530 (46.2%) were males aged 0-86 years, the youngest was only 1 month old and 2 579 (47.1%) were young children and teenagers. The serum specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to 14 kinds of common allergens and serum total IgE were detected by using AllergyScreen test (Mediwiss Analytic GmbH, Moers, Germany).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 5 473 subjects the positive rate of sIgE was 33.1% (n=1 813). Cow milk (6.9%) and wheat (3.1%) were the most common food allergens, followed by house dust mite mix (12.5%) and mould mix (9.4%) and the age and gender specific differences in the positive rate were significant. For the children aged <7 years the positive rates to cow milk, beef-mutton, and egg white/egg yolk were high, but the positive rates to house dust mite mix, ragweed estragon, and mould mix were low (P<0.05). For the adults the positive rates to aeroallergens were high while the rates to food allergens were low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study showed that the food allergens in Harbin had geographic characteristics, which support the viewpoint that the environment factors play an important role in the incidence of allergic diseases. Also, the detection of sIgE and total IgE are essential to identify relevant allergens for the purpose of early diagnosis, management and prevention of allergic disease.
authors: Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, Heilongjiang, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, Heilongjiang, China.
authors: Man Li
authors: ML
authors: Chang
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Shao
authors: Yan Hong
authors: YH
authors: Liu
authors: Lu Lu
authors: LL
authors: Li
authors: Li Chun
authors: LC
authors: Pei
authors: Bin You
authors: BY
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Aeroallergens; China; Food allergens; Harbin; Specific IgE