Korean J Pediatr.  2012 Sep;55(9):322-329. 10.3345/kjp.2012.55.9.322.

Sensitization rates of airborne pollen and mold in children

• Park SH
• Lim DH
• Son BK
• Kim JH
• Song YE
• Oh IB
• Kim YH
• Lee KH
• Kim SY
• Hong SC

• KMID: 2284390
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2012.55.9.322

Abstract

PURPOSE
Aeroallergens are important causative factors of allergic diseases. Previous studies on aeroallergen sensitization rates investigated patients groups that had visited pediatric allergy clinics. In contrast, we investigated sensitization rates in a general population group of elementary school to teenage students in Incheon, Jeju, and Ulsan.
METHODS
After obtaining parental consent, skin-prick tests were performed on 5,094 students between March and June 2010. Elementary school students were tested for 18 common aeroallergens, whereas middle and high school students were tested for 25 allergens. The 25 allergens included Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, pollen (birch, alder, oak, Japanese cedar, pine, willow, elm, maple, Bermuda grass, timothy grass, rye grass, orchard grass, meadow grass, vernal grass, mugwort, Japanese hop, fat hen, ragweed, and plantain), and mold (Penicillatum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Alternaria).
RESULTS
The sensitization rates in descending order were 25.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 18.66% (D. farinae), 6.20% (mugwort), and 4.07% (willow) in Incheon; 33.35% (D. pteronyssinus), 24.78% (D. farinae), 15.36% (Japanese cedar), and 7.33% (Alternaria) in Jeju; and 32.79% (D. pteronyssinus), 30.27% (D. farinae), 10.13% (alder), and 8.68% (birch) in Ulsan. The dust mite allergen showed the highest sensitization rate among the 3 regions. The sensitization rate of tree pollen was the highest in Ulsan, whereas that of Alternaria was the highest in Jeju. The ragweed sensitization rates were 0.99% in Incheon, 1.07% in Jeju, and 0.81% in Ulsan.
CONCLUSION
The differences in sensitization rates were because of different regional environmental conditions and distinct surrounding biological species. Hence, subsequent nationwide studies are required.

Keyword

Allergens; Sensitization; Child

MeSH Terms

Acer
Allergens
Alnus
Alternaria
Ambrosia
Artemisia
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Aspergillus
Child
Cladosporium
Cryptomeria
Cynodon
Dactylis
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Dust
Fungi
Humans
Humulus
Hypersensitivity
Lolium
Mites
Parental Consent
Phleum
Poaceae
Pollen
Population Groups
Salix
Allergens
Dust