ABSTRACT
Dust mite sensitization is considered a major risk factor for pediatric asthma; however, there are few data about early sensitization in Chilean children available. This study aimed to investigate allergic sensitization to mites in infancy and early childhood. The patient population, 224 children aged 0 to 5 years with suspected respiratory allergy, was divided into 3 groups of age: 1 to 12 months-old, 13 to 35 months-old, and 3 to 5 years-old. Sensitization status was ascertained by assessing the specific IgE to mite by UniCAP fluoroimmunoassay (Pharmacia). Sixty eight (30.6 percent) patients were sensitized to mites. The frequency and level of sensitization increased with the age of the children. Our data support that avoidance measures in the domestic environment aimed at the primary prevention of mite-driven sensitization should be introduced at the earliest possible stage.
La sensibilización a dermatofagoides es un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de asma. Hay escasa información sobre la sensibilización temprana en niños chilenos. Objetivo: Investigar la sensibilización a dermatofagoides en niños de 5 años y menores. Método: Revisión de resultados de IgE específica por ensayo UniCAP (Pharmacia) contra dermatofagoides de niños de hasta 5 años con sospecha de alergia respiratoria, divididos en 3 grupos de edad: 1-12 meses, 13-35 meses y 3-5 años. Resultados: Se estudió un total de 224 niños, entre 1 mes y 5 años de edad (x 2,65 años +/- 1,48 DS), 57,1 por ciento de sexo masculino. Su distribución según grupo etario fue: 66 en el grupo 1; 45 en el grupo 2 y 113 en el grupo 3. El 30,6 por ciento presentó sensibilización a dermatofagoides (18,2 por ciento grupo 1; 33,3 por ciento grupo 2 y 36,3 por ciento grupo 3). El grupo 3 presentó concentraciones de IgE específica significativamente más elevadas que los otros grupos. Conclusiones: La sensibilización a dermatofagoides es detectable en menores de un año, con frecuencia y nivel que aumentan en forma paralela a la edad.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Dermatophagoides farinae/immunology , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology , Age Factors , Allergens/adverse effects , Allergens , Fluoroimmunoassay/methods , Respiratory Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Immunoglobulin E/analysis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to define antibody levels against four neumococcal serotypes, before and after neumococcal vaccination in patients with respiratory infections. Fifty one patients were studied, 19 children from 1 to 5 yeras old, 19 children from 6 to 18 years old and 22 adults from 27 to 65 years old. IgG anti-neumococcal, antibodies, against serotypes 3, 7F, 9N and 14 were measured using an enzyme immunoassay, before and four weeks after vaccination. There was a significant increase in antibody titers against all serotypes in subjects older 7 yeras. In children of less than 6 yeras, the response to serotype 14 was non significant. The intensity of response differed according to the studied serotypes and the percentage of patients that responded to each serotype increased with age. Five patients older than 18 years were identified as non responders to all four serotypes. It is concluded that neumococcal vaccine increases anti-neumococcal antibodies in patients with recurrent infections and allows the identification of patients with specific antibody deficiency syndromes and normal total immunoglobulin levels