Abstract:

Objective To analyse the distribution characteristics of major allergens initiating allergic diseases in children from rural Shanghai. Methods Eight hundred children with allergic diseases from rural Shanghai (rural case group), 450 children with allergic diseases from urban Shanghai (urban case group) and 100 healthy children from rural Shanghai (rural normal control group) underwent skin prick tests (SPT), and children of rural case group were subdivided into infant group, preschool age group and school age group according to age. The positive rates of allergens and SPT were compared among groups. Results The positive rate of SPT of rural case group was significantly higher than that of rural normal control group (73.38% vs 26.00%, P<0.05), and was significantly lower than that of urban case group (73.38% vs 80.22%, P<0.05). Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were the major allergens in rural case group, with the positive rates of 57.88% and 59.13%, respectively. Except weed and rubber, there were significant differences in positive rates of the other allergens between rural case group and the other two groups（P<0.05）. There were significant differences in positive rates of SPT among different age groups of rural children with allergic diseases (P<0.05). Conclusion Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus are the major allergens in children with allergic diseases from rural Shanghai, whose positive rates of SPT are lower than those of children with allergic diseases from urban Shanghai. The positive rate of SPT is related to age to some extent.

Key words: allergen, skin prick test, allergic disease, suburb, Shanghai, children