Natural history of skin prick test reactivity: A 20-year prospective study of a random population sample of children and adolescents

Jesper Schou Nielsen; Howraman Meteran; Charlotte Suppli Ulrik; Celeste Porsbjerg; Vibeke Backer

doi:10.1016/j.anai.2017.05.001

Natural history of skin prick test reactivity: A 20-year prospective study of a random population sample of children and adolescents

Jesper Schou Nielsen, Howraman Meteran, Charlotte Suppli Ulrik, Celeste Porsbjerg, Vibeke Backer

Department of Clinical Medicine

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Journal	Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
Volume	119
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	184-188
ISSN	1081-1206
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2017.05.001
Publication status	Published - Aug 2017

Keywords

Adolescent
Allergens/immunology
Animals
Asthma/immunology
Child
Desensitization, Immunologic
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity/immunology
Immunization
Male
Particulate Matter/immunology
Prospective Studies
Rhinitis/diagnosis
Skin Tests/methods

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10.1016/j.anai.2017.05.001

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Natural history of skin prick test reactivity : A 20-year prospective study of a random population sample of children and adolescents. / Schou Nielsen, Jesper; Meteran, Howraman; Ulrik, Charlotte Suppli et al.

In: Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, Vol. 119, No. 2, 08.2017, p. 184-188.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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title = "Natural history of skin prick test reactivity: A 20-year prospective study of a random population sample of children and adolescents",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Allergens/immunology, Animals, Asthma/immunology, Child, Desensitization, Immunologic, Female, Humans, Hypersensitivity/immunology, Immunization, Male, Particulate Matter/immunology, Prospective Studies, Rhinitis/diagnosis, Skin Tests/methods",

author = "{Schou Nielsen}, Jesper and Howraman Meteran and Ulrik, {Charlotte Suppli} and Celeste Porsbjerg and Vibeke Backer",

year = "2017",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.anai.2017.05.001",

language = "English",

volume = "119",

pages = "184--188",

journal = "Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology",

issn = "1081-1206",

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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

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

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

SN - 1081-1206

VL - 119

SP - 184

EP - 188

JO - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

JF - Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

IS - 2

ER -

Natural history of skin prick test reactivity: A 20-year prospective study of a random population sample of children and adolescents

Abstract

Keywords

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