BackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) may cause emotional distress and impairs the quality of life (QoL) in children and their families.ObjectiveWe examined family QoL of children with AD and explored associated factors such as disease severity and psychosocial factors among parents of children with AD.MethodsStudy participants were 78 children (1 month to 16 years old) diagnosed with AD and their parents visiting an outpatient clinic of the Department of Pediatrics in Inha University Hospital. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and medical record review. Parents completed the Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire (DFI), the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Korean Parenting Stress Index. For children aged below 6-year-old, parents were asked to complete the Infants' Dermatologic Quality of Life. SCOring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 Generic Core Scale were also completed.ResultsThe mean age of parents and children were 37.4 ± 5.3 years and 65.1 ± 45.7 months, respectively. Among them, 87.2% of parents were mothers and 60.3% of children were boys. The mean score of DFI was 11.2 ± 6.0. The mean SCORAD score was 28.3 ± 16.1. Family who experienced strong negative emotionality had a 3.8 times higher probability of experiencing a lower QoL than parents who did not (odds ratio [OR], 3.82; p = 0.041). Family of children with higher severity of AD had a 6.6 times (OR, 6.55; p = 0.018) higher probability of experiencing a low family QoL than their less-severe counterparts. Families of girls with AD had a lower QoL (OR, 8.40; p = 0.003) than families of boys.ConclusionFamily QoL among parents of children with AD was low and associated with parent’s psychosocial characteristics as well as disease severity of the children. Considering parental involvement in AD management for children, emotional support for parents can be helpful in long journey of disease management.

This was the first study conducted in Korea to investigate the prevalence of AR in the general population by using both questionnaires and SPTs. The allergens used for the SPTs were chosen based on the common allergens in this study, and this current pollen data will contribute to establish the cause of increasing AR prevalence in Korea.

BackgroundPollen allergens are one of the main contributors to the development and/or aggravation of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma.ObjectiveAn examination of the airborne pollen in residential areas should be conducted to aid the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases.MethodsAirborne pollen samples were collected from 2 sites in Incheon and 2 in Seoul from 2015 to 2016.ResultsThe highest monthly concentration of airborne pollen was observed in May and September each year. Pollen from 32 families and 50 genera was identified over the 2 years; of these, Pinus spp. showed the highest pollen concentration (41.6%), followed by Quercus spp. (25.3%), and Humulus spp. (15.3%), the latter of which had the highest concentration among weed pollen. The total pollen concentration was significantly higher in Incheon than in Seoul (p = 0.001 in 2015, p < 0.001 in 2016) and higher in 2016 than in 2015. The concentrations of pollen from weed species (Cupressaceae, Humulus spp., Artemisia spp., Ambrosia spp., and Chenopodiaceae) and grass species (Gramineae) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those from tree species. Pollen was distributed from February to November. The first pollen identified in both regions in each year was Alnus spp. Overall, the total concentration of Quercus spp., Betula spp., Humulus spp., Artemisia spp., Ambrosia spp., and Chenopodiaceae pollen increased significantly over the 2 years.ConclusionRegion-specific differences exist in the pollen of major allergenic plants. Continuous monitoring of pollen is thus essential for management of pollen-related allergic disorders in each region.

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Purpose: The characteristics of allergic rhinitis can be different among countries and areas because causative allergens and aggravating factors depend on the living environment. However, there have been few studies on the clinical feature of Korean children with allergic rhinitis, as well as on clinical characteristics in different age groups. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of Korean children with allergic rhinitis. Methods: The medical records of children under 12 years of age who had rhinitis symptoms were analyzed in terms of clinical symptoms and positive allergens. Subjects were classified into 2 groups: those with allergic rhinitis (AR group) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR group). Both groups were subdivided into 3 categories: the 1-4 years, 5-8 years, and 9-12 age groups. Results: Among 516 children, 397 (76.94%) belonged to the AR group and 119 (23.06%) belonged to the NAR group. The male to female ratios were 2:1 in both groups. There were significant differences in sneezing and itching between the AR and NAR groups across different age subgroups. There were significant differences in nasal obstruction between the AR and NAR groups in the 9-12 age group. The incidence of AR was 77.8 % in chronic sinusitis patients. Sensitized allergens were house dust mites, animal hair, pollen, and mold in decreasing order in the AR group. Children who were sensitized to animal hair more frequently had sneezing than those who were not. Conclusion: Sneezing and itching strongly suggest allergic rhinitis in Korean children. Clinical characteristics of allergic rhinitis in Korean children would helpful in early diagnosis and adequate treatment of disease. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2015;3:116-123) 서 론 알레르기비염(allergic rhinitis)의 유병률은 현재 전세계 인구의 40% 이상, 1,2) 유럽 인구의 23%-30%, 3,4) 미국의 12%- 30% 5) 로 이로 인한 사회적 부담이 매우 크다. 국제아동천식 및 알레르기질환 역 학조사 3상(International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood [ISAAC] study phase 3)에 따르면 알레르기비염 유병률은 나 이지리아의 3.6%부터 파라과이의 45.1%까지 나라마다 매우 큰 차 이를 보이고 있다. 6) 국내 초등학생의 알레르기비염 진단 유병률은 1995년 15.5%, 2000년 20.4%, 2006년 28.5%, 2010년 29.9%로 지속 적으로 증가하는 경향을 보이고 있다. 7-9) 산업화에 의한 대기오염의 증가, 식이 습관, 주거 및 생활환경의 변화, 위생가설 등이 질환 유병 률 증가의 주요한 원인으로 대두되고 있다. 10-12) 이처럼 국가 간, 지역 간 알레르기비염 유병률의 차이는 유전적인 요인 이외의 환경적인 요인에 기인한다. 알레르기비염은 비점막이 알레르겐에 노출된 후 일어나는 IgE 매개성 염증 반응에 의한 질환으로, 주요 증상은 수양성 콧물, 재채 기, 코막힘, 코 또는 눈의 가려움 등이다. 1) 그러나 약물, 바이러스 감 염 등에 의한 코 증상도 이와 유사하여 증상만으로는 알레르기비 염과 비알레르기비염(nonallergic rhinitis)을 구별하는 것이 쉽지 Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 3(2):116-123, March 2015 http://dx.