Dynamic changes in sensitization to specific aeroallergens in children raised in a desert environment

Summary Background Allergen skin test reactivity and total serum IgE are objective measures used to characterize and help diagnose allergic diseases. Cross‐sectional studies have shown that overall aeroallergen skin test reactivity increases throughout childhood. However, little attention has been p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical and experimental allergy 2004-10, Vol.34 (10), p.1563-1669
Main Authors: Stern, D. A., Lohman, I. C., Wright, A. L., Taussig, L. M., Martinez, F. D., Halonen, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aeroallergen
Air
Allergens - immunology
Allergic diseases
allergy
Alternaria
Alternaria - immunology
Amaranthus - adverse effects
Amaranthus - immunology
atopy
Biological and medical sciences
Child
children
Cynodon - adverse effects
Cynodon - immunology
desert
Desert Climate
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - epidemiology
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - ethnology
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - immunology
IgE
Immunoglobulin E - analysis
Immunopathology
Incidence
longitudinal
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Medical sciences
Morus - adverse effects
Morus - immunology
Olea - adverse effects
Olea - immunology
Prevalence
Prosopis - adverse effects
Prosopis - immunology
Prospective Studies
Sex Distribution
skin test
Skin Tests - methods
Southwestern United States - epidemiology
Southwestern United States - ethnology
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Description
Summary:Summary Background Allergen skin test reactivity and total serum IgE are objective measures used to characterize and help diagnose allergic diseases. Cross‐sectional studies have shown that overall aeroallergen skin test reactivity increases throughout childhood. However, little attention has been paid to whether individual aeroallergen remittance occurs, which could distort or mask relationships to disease. Objective To access the incidence and remittance of skin test reactions to individual allergens in children aged 6–11 years. Methods Longitudinal sensitization to six aeroallergens and total IgE were assessed in 828 children raised in the semi‐arid US southwest at ages 6 and 11 years. Results New sensitization (to any allergen) between 6 and 11 years occurred in 30.2% of children compared with 39.7% before age 6 years. The rate of complete remittance from positive to negative between ages 6 and 11 years was 8.2%, and total IgE at age 6 years was not predictive. Remittance rates for individual allergens were high and variable (19–49%). The perennial allergens Bermuda and Alternaria were early sensitizers and had low remittance rates. Early sensitization to the four seasonal allergens was less common and more subject to remittance with the bulk of sensitization occurring between 6 and 11 years. Conclusion This study shows that sensitization to individual aeroallergens in childhood is dynamic and indicates the limitation of single point assessment of skin test reactivity.
ISSN:0954-7894
1365-2222
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.02088.x