Objective: To determine the prevalence of sensitivity to common inhaled and food allergens among children with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Changzhou in eastern China and provide a basis for clinical evaluation of pediatric allergic status and prevention strategies for allergen avoidance.Methods: A total of 1248 children with AR were enrolled at the Third People's Hospital of Changzhou between January 2018 and December 2019. The serum-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to 19 kinds of inhaled and food allergens and serum total IgE were detected with the AllergyScreen test (Mediwiss Analytic GmbH, Moers, Germany). All participants had a positive reaction to at least one allergen in the test.Results: Among the patients, 818 (65.54%) were male and 430 (34.46%) were female, with 81 (6.50%) aged 1–3 yr, 501 (40.14%) aged 4–7 yr, and 666 (53.36%) aged 8–14 yr. The positivity rate of inhaled allergens was 80.05% (n = 999), while the positivity rate of food allergens was 66.19% (n = 826). The most common inhaled allergens were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (65.38%), mold mix (25.56%), house dust (20.67%), and dog hair dander (13.94%), and the most common food allergens were cow's milk (30.31%), cashew nut (27.9%), egg (22.68%), and beef (12.98%). With an increase in age, the inhaled allergen positivity rate increased, while the food allergen positivity rate decreased. Total IgE levels were higher in the groups with older children.Conclusions: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was the most common sensitizing allergen in pediatric patients with AR in Changzhou. Several other inhaled and food allergens were also common. We observed that multiple allergenic factors play an important role in the occurrence and development of AR.
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