TY - JOUR

T1 - Natural history of skin prick test reactivity

T2 - A 20-year prospective study of a random population sample of children and adolescents

AU - Schou Nielsen, Jesper

AU - Meteran, Howraman

AU - Ulrik, Charlotte Suppli

AU - Porsbjerg, Celeste

AU - Backer, Vibeke

N1 - Copyright © 2017 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to airborne allergens may have important consequences for affected individuals and are believed to be unstable through life, although evidence from longitudinal studies is limited.OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in skin prick reactivity during 20 years in a random population sample of children and adolescents in relation to symptoms of rhinitis.METHODS: A total of 983 individuals, aged 7 to 17 years, were randomly selected in 1986 and invited to 4 examinations during a 20-year period. During each examination, a skin prick test was performed using common local aeroallergens (ie, birch, grass, mugwort, horse, dog, cat, house dust mite [Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae] and 2 molds [Alternaria iridis and Cladosporium herbarum]).RESULTS: The prevalence of allergy to any tested allergen peaked at the ages of 13 to 23 years. Rates of sensitization were variable. In the group of individuals tested more than once (n = 592), 16% developed sensitization during the study period and 9% became desensitized. In the group of individuals tested at all 4 examinations (n = 148), 34% developed sensitization and 22% became desensitized. In the group who developed sensitization, 55% had rhinitis, 17% had asthma, and 70% had eczema. In the group who became desensitized, 30% had rhinitis, 10% had asthma, and 50% had eczema.CONCLUSION: This 20-year prospective study found that sensitization is common, but its prevalence in individuals is also variable over time. Furthermore, through puberty and early adulthood a large number of individuals develop sensitization and a smaller number become desensitized. In addition, we found that symptoms of rhinitis rarely preceded sensitization.

AB - BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to airborne allergens may have important consequences for affected individuals and are believed to be unstable through life, although evidence from longitudinal studies is limited.OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in skin prick reactivity during 20 years in a random population sample of children and adolescents in relation to symptoms of rhinitis.METHODS: A total of 983 individuals, aged 7 to 17 years, were randomly selected in 1986 and invited to 4 examinations during a 20-year period. During each examination, a skin prick test was performed using common local aeroallergens (ie, birch, grass, mugwort, horse, dog, cat, house dust mite [Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae] and 2 molds [Alternaria iridis and Cladosporium herbarum]).RESULTS: The prevalence of allergy to any tested allergen peaked at the ages of 13 to 23 years. Rates of sensitization were variable. In the group of individuals tested more than once (n = 592), 16% developed sensitization during the study period and 9% became desensitized. In the group of individuals tested at all 4 examinations (n = 148), 34% developed sensitization and 22% became desensitized. In the group who developed sensitization, 55% had rhinitis, 17% had asthma, and 70% had eczema. In the group who became desensitized, 30% had rhinitis, 10% had asthma, and 50% had eczema.CONCLUSION: This 20-year prospective study found that sensitization is common, but its prevalence in individuals is also variable over time. Furthermore, through puberty and early adulthood a large number of individuals develop sensitization and a smaller number become desensitized. In addition, we found that symptoms of rhinitis rarely preceded sensitization.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Allergens/immunology

KW - Animals

KW - Asthma/immunology

KW - Child

KW - Desensitization, Immunologic

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Hypersensitivity/immunology

KW - Immunization

KW - Male

KW - Particulate Matter/immunology

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Rhinitis/diagnosis

KW - Skin Tests/methods

U2 - 10.1016/j.anai.2017.05.001

DO - 10.1016/j.anai.2017.05.001

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28599992

VL - 119

SP - 184

EP - 188

JO - Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology

JF - Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology

SN - 1081-1206

IS - 2

ER -