SENSITIZING ALLERGENS OF CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIC DISEASES IN JAPAN

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate sensitizing allergens of children with allergic diseases in Japan.
Methods: Five hundred and eighty nine children with allergic diseases diagnosed by allergologists were enrolled in the study. Specific IgE antibodies to 35 allergens were measured in the sera from those children. The children were divided into 3 age groups (0-1y: n=105, 2-5y: n=214, 6-15y: n=270).
Results: In 0-1y group, egg and milk were the most frequent allergens followed by peanut and wheat. The frequency of positive specific IgE antibodies to peanut was higher comparing to previous reports. House dust mites and dog dander were the most frequent in inhalant allergens followed by cockroach. In 2-5y and 6-15y groups, the frequencies of positive specific IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens were higher than those of 0-1y group. However, the frequencies of egg, milk, fish and meats were lower. No difference of frequencies to grains, legumes and crustaceans were found among those 3 age groups. Although severity of atopic dermatitis affected sensitization rate with allergens, it is not shown in severity of bronchial asthma.
Conclusion: To select allergens to be measured specific IgE antibodies in sera from children suspected of allergic diseases, age, symptoms and severity of disease should be considered.