Abstract:

Objective: This study aimed to identify aeroallergens susceptibility patterns of atopic children living in the city of Antalya, southwest of Turkey. Methods: One thousand seven hundred five patients (2-18 years) who applied to the pediatric allergy immunology outpatient clinic between April 2018-March 2020 were included in the study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with at least one allergic sensitization in the skin prick test were evaluated. Results: A total of 761 patients were evaluated, comprising 57.69% males and 42.31% females, with a median age of 9.25 years (range, 6.25-12.9 years). Of the total patients 54.01% had asthma (AS), 89.22% had allergic rhinitis (AR), (45.33%) had both AS and AR and 11.83% had atopic dermatitis. Sensitivity to house dust mites (HDMs) was the most common sensitivity (66.23%), followed by animal dander (39.68%) and cockroach (34.56%). Other allergens were grass pollen (32.33%), mold (31.54%), weed mixture pollen (29.04%), olive tree (27.86%), and tree mixture (14.98%), respectively. More than one allergen sensitization was detected in 537 (70.6%) patients. AR was more common in boys (p=0028). Pollen sensitivity was higher in children with AR than in children without AR (p<0.001). Conclusion: In our study in which allergen sensitivity was determined in atopic children in our region, the most common allergens were HDMs, cockroachs and animal dander, which are indoor allergens.

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