ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to explore the rates of elevated total IgE levels and sensitization among asthmatic and non-asthmatic children visiting the clinic in one of the main Children Hospital in northern Jordan. A total of 177 children aged between 1 month and 16 years were classified into 3 groups: Outpatients without any symptoms of atopic diseases [n=82], Asthmatics [n=50] and a control group [n=45]. Serum IgE levels were measured in addition to IgE antibodies against panels of inhalant and food allergens for samples with total lgE above 200 IU/ml. The highest mean value for total IgE [737.9 IU/ml] was in the asthmatic children above the age of 10 years. The rates of high total IgE [above 200 IU/ml] was 44% in asthmatic, 23.2% in outpatient and 13.3% in control children. Twenty one out of the 22 [95.5%] samples of asthmatic children showed reactivity to at least one tested allergen. In this group, sensitization to domestic house dust mites [Dermatophygoides pteronyssinus] was the most prevalent [70%]. For the other groups, 55.5% of subjects were sensitized to mixed grass pollen. Regarding food allergens, the highest percentage of children was sensitized to carrot followed by wheat flour. IgE antibodies specific to food allergens predominate in younger ages whereas IgE to both aero and food allergen groups was noticed in older ages. High levels of IgE were recorded among Jordanian children visiting a pediatric clinic with the highest sensitization among asthmatics being to house dust mites