Aeroallergen sensitization in childhood asthmatics in northern India.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of sensitization to common aeroallergens in asthmatic children and study the differences in characteristics of atopics and non atopics.

DESIGN

Analysis of data from a prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Pediatric Chest Clinic of tertiary care center in Northern India.

PATIENTS: Asthmatic children from 5-18 year of age.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of sensitization to common aeroallergens.

RESULTS

Skin prick testing (SPT) was performed on 180 children above 5 years of age, with a mean (SD) age of 111.4 (34.2) months. 100 children (55.6%) were sensitized to at least one aeroallergen, suggesting atopy; 68 (37.8%) were sensitized to more than one allergen. 36.7% children were sensitized to housefly antigen; 31.1% to rice grain dust, 18.3% to cockroach, and 7.8% to house dust mite antigens. Atopic children had significantly higher median FENO during follow up than non-atopic children (17.5 ppb vs 13 ppb, P=0.002). There was a positive correlation between age and the number of allergens that an individual was sensitized to (r= 0.21; P=0.0049).

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of asthmatic children in our cohort had sensitization to one or more aeroallergens suggesting atopy; sensitization was most commonly seen to housefly antigen and rice grain dust. Atopic children had significantly higher FENO measurements during follow up as compared to non-atopic children.