Impact of age on the profile of sensitization to pneumallergens

The pneumallergens involved in respiratory allergy are multiple. The sensitization profile to these allergens may vary with age. The objective of our study is to specify the impact of age on the epidemiological and allergenic characteristics of patients with respiratory allergy. Patients and methods: Retrospective study of patients consulting for respiratory allergy at Abderahmen Mami Hospital (Ariana, Tunisia) between 2011 and 2017. We studied the clinical and allergenic features of three groups of patients: G1: 100 patients (2-10 years old); G2: 88 patients (11-17 years old) and G3: 319 adults (>18 years old). Results: The mean age was 24 years (2-78). Familial atopy was statistically more common in G1 and G2. Sensitization to dust mites was similar between groups, whereas sensitization to pollens was significantly higher in G3. Monosensitization was statistically more frequent in G1 and G2. Conclusion: The frequency of pollinosis and polysensitization is more marked in adults than in children.

Autorentext
Ben Saad-Baouab, SoumayaMy name is Dr Soumaya Ben Saad. My medical studies took place at the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis in Tunisia. I practice as a pneumologist allergist since April 2011 at the Abderahmen Mami Hospital in Ariana (Tunisia) and as an associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Tunis since February 2019.