Trends of aeroallergen sensitization among children with respiratory allergy in Southern Thailand

Abstract

Background: Respiratory allergy significantly impacts children’s health and quality of life, with inhaled allergens serving as prevalent triggers for respiratory symptoms. Aeroallergen sensitization, confirmed through the skin prick test (SPT), naturally evolves over time and is influenced by environmental factors specific to each region. Objective: This study aimed to review the updated 6-year trend of aeroallergen sensitization among children with asthma and allergic rhinitis in Southern Thailand. Methods: This retrospective study involved a review of patients aged ≤15 years diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, who underwent the SPT using 12 standardized aeroallergens. Results: The medical records of 1,393 children were reviewed, with 63% being male, and the mean age was 7.4 ± 3.3 years. Among them, 55.5% presented with allergic rhinitis alone, followed by 31.6% with asthma and allergic rhinitis, and 12.9% with asthma alone. Over the 6-year period, house dust mites emerged as the most common sensitized allergen, followed closely by cockroaches, maintaining a consistent trend of sensitization. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ranked as the predominant sensitized allergen across all diagnoses (63% in asthma with allergic rhinitis, 52.7% in allergic rhinitis, and 43.5% in asthma). Children diagnosed with both asthma and allergic rhinitis exhibited a higher prevalence of sensitization to house dust mites, cockroaches, Johnson grass, acacia, Candida albicans, and cat pelts compared with those with asthma or allergic rhinitis alone. Additionally, the prevalence of house dust mite and cockroach sensitization was notably higher in older children (≥5 years old) with respiratory allergies. Conclusion: House dust mites and cockroaches emerge as the 2 most prevalent sensitized aeroallergens among children diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, exhibiting consistent trends of sensitization over the past 6 years. The persistence of these causative allergens underscores the importance of meticulous environmental control measures for children affected by respiratory allergies.