Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Aeroallergen sensitization in school-age children with allergic rhinitis: What has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Gunaydin, Nursen Cigerci; Tanc, Ceren; Celiker, Ezgi Tanburoglu; Kacmaz, Sule Guler; Samanci, Nedim; Nalbantoglu, Aysin; Nalbantoglu, Burcin.
  • Gunaydin NC; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey; drnursen@hotmail.com.
  • Tanc C; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
  • Celiker ET; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
  • Kacmaz SG; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
  • Samanci N; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
  • Nalbantoglu A; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
  • Nalbantoglu B; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) ; 51(3): 68-79, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2315070
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Pandemic period may affect aeroallergen sensitization.

OBJECTIVE:

The study aimed to investigate changes in allergen sensitivities of skin prick test (SPT) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) during pandemic and to evaluate relationship with disease severity.

METHODS:

In all, 164 AR patients with or without asthma, aged 6-17 years, who have undergone SPTs prior to the pandemic and after October 1, 2021 (18th month of the pandemic), were evaluated retrospectively. The wheal size of allergens in performed SPTs during and prior to the pandemic were compared. Detected changes in allergen sensitivities via SPT results were compared with changes in the disease severity parameters (AR severity, asthma severity, and the number of asthma exacerbations per year), frequency of upper respiratory tract infections and antibiotic use, laboratory parameters, demographic characteristics, and visual analogue scores (VAS).

RESULTS:

House dust mites (HDMs), cat, pollen, Artemisia, and Cupressus sensitization increased in AR patients during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. HDM, mold, and pollen wheal diameters increased in SPTs. Proportion of polysensitization increased during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic period (9.1% vs 3%; P < 0.001), and number of non-sensitized patients decreased during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period (7.9% vs 22.6%; P < 0.001). An increase in HDM sensitivity in SPTs was correlated with VAS for nasal blockage, and an increase in cat sensitivity was correlated with VAS for all nasal symptoms.

CONCLUSION:

We believe that inhalant allergen sensitization might have been affected by the lifestyle changes of patients during the pandemic. Hence, it is important to evaluate patients for allergen sensitization, especially patients with moderate/severe AR, to revise disease control measurements.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Asthma / Rhinitis, Allergic / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Child / Humans Language: English Journal: Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) Year: 2023 Document Type: Article

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Asthma / Rhinitis, Allergic / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Child / Humans Language: English Journal: Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) Year: 2023 Document Type: Article