Allergy in adolescent population (14-18 years) living in Campania region (Southern Italy). A multicenter study
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Authors Information
Promoted by Italian Association of Hospital and Territorial Allergologists (AAIITO, Campania Region). Data presented in Poster Session at National Congress of AAIITO, Palermo 11-14 October 2017
1 Department of Pulmonology, Haematology and Oncology, Division of Pulmonology and Allergology. High Speciality A. Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy
2 Postgraduate School of Respiratory Medicine. Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
3 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
4 Respiratory Medicine Unit, ASL (District 66), Salerno, Italy
5 Respiratory Allergy Unit. G. Da Procida Hospital, Salerno, Italy
6 Allergy and Clinical Immunology, G. Fucito Hospital and University Hospital, Salerno, Italy
7 Allergy Unit, Presidio Sanitario Polispecialistico Loreto Crispi Naples, Italy
8 Allergy Center, Division of Internal Medicine, Ospedali Riuniti Penisola Sorrentina, Sorrento (NA), Italy
9 Department of Respiratory Disease, Federico II University, AO Dei Colli, Naples, Italy
10 Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, High Speciality Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy
11 Allergy Unit, High Speciality San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy
12 Respiratory Physiopathology and Allergy, High Speciality Center Mauro Scarlato Hospital, Scafati (SA), Italy
13 Allergy Unit, ASL Na 3 (Sanitary District 59), Meta di Sorrento (NA), Italy
14 Allergy Unit, ASL (Sanitary District 12), Caserta, Italy
15 Pulmonary Rehabilitation Unit ICS Maugeri, Telese Terme, Benevento, Italy
16 ASL (Sanitary District), Avellino, Italy
17 Allergology Unit, Division of Internal Medicine, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Benevento, Italy
18 Allergy Unit, National Healthcare System, Reggio Calabria, Italy
History
Published online: 31 July 2018
Accepted: 3 April 2018
Received: 26 January 2018
SUMMARY
Adolescents (Ad) constitute a difficult to manage population among individuals suffering from asthma. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics and age of onset of allergic sensitization and clinical symptoms in a sample of atopic Ad living in the Campania region (Southern Italy). Sixteen Allergy units or Centers belonging to the Italian Association of Hospital and Territorial Allergologists (AAIITO, Campania region) participated in this cross-sectional study. A case report form (CRF) was specifically designed for this study and commercial allergen extracts used for screening SPTs were provided by ALK-Abelló Group (Milan, Italy). A total of 443 patients were examined (females, f 220, 49.6 %; males, m 223, 50.3%). Dust mites represent the most common sensitizing agents in allergic Ad living in Campania region (Dermatoph. pteronyssinus 67.4% and Dermatoph. farinae 66.5%), followed by Parietaria (58.9%), grasses (45.8%), Artemisia vulgaris (16.7%), Olea Europaea (32.2%), dog dander (17.1%), cat dander (20.0%), Alternaria alternata (8.1%), Cupressus sempervirens (4.9%), Betula pendula (4.7%), other allergens (19.4%). An interesting comparison has been made between clinical data of our Ad with data of elderly patients (E). The role of allergic sensitization is significantly higher in Ad compared to E. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is the first sensitizing allergen in Ad and the last in E. Parietaria constitutes the first sensitizing pollen both in Ad and E, the percentage of sensitization is higher in Ad. Another important difference is the higher prevalence of As, as only symptom, in E compared to Ad (19.7% versus 7.6%). In conclusion, our findings confirm the high prevalence and clinical significance of airway allergic sensitization in the adolescents living in Campania region.
