Aeroallergen Sensitization by Skin Prick Testing in Children from Erzurum, Eastern Türkiye

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and distribution of aeroallergen sensitization in children who presented with allergic complaints to the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Clinic in Erzurum and surrounding provinces and underwent skin prick testing. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,251 patients aged 2–18 years who underwent skin prick testing (SPT) at the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Clinic between February 1, 2022, and November 1, 2024. Demographic data, SPT results, serum total IgE, and eosinophil counts of patients with at least one aeroallergen sensitization were analyzed. Results: Sensitization to at least one aeroallergen was detected in 55.4% (n=693) of the patients, with 75.3% being polysensitized. The most common allergen group was pollens (79.2%), with grass pollen mix (55.1%) being the leading sensitizer. Pollens were followed by house dust mites (35.9%), cat epithelium (24.6%), dog epithelium (19.1%), and Alternaria alternata (16.5%). The most frequent diagnoses in sensitized patients were allergic rhinitis (43.7%) and asthma (26.3%). Significant differences in IgE and eosinophil levels were found between atopic dermatitis and respiratory allergic disease groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: In children living in Erzurum and surrounding provinces, the most common sensitizations are to pollens and house dust mites. House dust mite sensitization remains a significant concern even in low-humidity regions due to indoor environmental factors. Determining the regional allergen profile can guide both diagnostic evaluation and the development of effective environmental control measures and immunotherapy strategies.

Keywords

• Atopy
• Aeroallergen
• Skin prick test
• House dust mites

Erzurum ve Türkiye’nin Doğusundaki Çocuklarda Aeroalerjen Duyarlılığının Deri Prick Testi ile Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, Erzurum ve çevre illerinde bulunan Çocuk Alerji ve İmmünoloji Polikliniğine alerjik şikayetlerle başvuran ve deri prick testi yapılan çocuklarda aeroalerjen duyarlılığının sıklığını ve dağılımını değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntemler: 1 Şubat 2022 – 1 Kasım 2024 tarihleri arasında Çocuk Alerji ve İmmünoloji Polikliniğine başvuran, 2–18 yaş arası ve deri prick testi (DPT) yapılan 1251 hasta retrospektif olarak incelendi. En az bir aeroalerjene duyarlılığı olan olguların demografik verileri, DPT sonuçları, serum total IgE ve eozinofil düzeyleri değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Hastaların %55,4’ünde (n=693) en az bir aeroalerjene karşı duyarlılık saptandı. Duyarlılığı olan olguların %75,3’ü polisensitizeydi. En sık saptanan alerjen grubu polenlerdi (%79,2); bunlar arasında çimen polen karışımı (%55,1) ilk sırada yer aldı. Polenleri ev tozu akarları (%35,9), kedi epiteli (%24,6), köpek epiteli (%19,1) ve Alternaria alternata (%16,5) izledi. Aeroalerjen duyarlılığı olan olgularda en yaygın tanılar alerjik rinit (%43,7) ve astım (%26,3) idi. IgE ve eozinofil düzeyleri, atopik dermatit ile solunum yolu alerjik hastalıkları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark gösterdi (p<0,05). Sonuç: Erzurum ve çevre illerindeki çocuklarda en sık polenler ve ev tozu akarlarına karşı aeroalerjen duyarlılığı gelişmektedir. Ev tozu akarlarının, nem oranı düşük bölgelerde dahi iç ortam koşullarına bağlı olarak önemli bir duyarlılık nedeni olduğu görülmektedir. Bu nedenle bölgesel alerjen profilinin belirlenmesi, hem tanısal süreçte hem de çevresel kontrol önlemleri ve immünoterapi planlamasında yol gösterici olabilir.

Keywords

• Atopi
• Aeroalerjen
• Deri prick testi
• Ev tozu akarları.

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