| The Significance of Serologic Allergy Tests in Children with Recurrent Pneumonia |
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Yoon Hee Sim, Sin Weon Yun, Soo Ahn Chae, Dong Keun Lee |
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Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungang University, Seoul, Korea |
| 재발성 폐렴 소아에서 혈청 알레르기 검사의 의의 |
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심윤희, 윤신원, 채수안, 이동근 |
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중앙대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 |
Correspondence:
Dong Keun Lee, Email: kidbrain@korea.com
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: Pneumonia is one of the most common respiratory diseases in hospitalized children, and often recurs. It has been reported that asthma is one of the significant contributing factors to recurrent pneumonia. On the basis of similarities between asthma and recurrent pneumonia, we intended to evaluate the influence of allergy on recurrent pneumonia.
Methods
: Seventy one children with recurrent pneumonia were defined as recurrent group(RG) and twenty one children with first episodes of pneumonia were defined as control group(CG). WBC, total eosinophil count, Eosinophilic Cationic Protein(ECP), serum total IgE and specific IgE for eleven common allergens using the CAP system were measured and compared. Recurrent pneumonia was defined as at least two pneumonia episodes in a year, or at least three episodes from birth to the time of our study. Children with previous allergic disorders were excluded.
Results
: There were no statistical differences in WBC, total IgE, and ECP between the two groups. Total eosinophil count in RG was significantly higher than CG(P=0.021), significantly correlating with ECP(r=0.755, P<0.05) and total IgE(r=0.354, P<0.05). When the cut-off value was 0.35 kU/L in CAP test, positive prevalence of CAP in RG was significantly higher than CG(P=0.009). Also, the positive prevalence of house dust mites group, especially Dermatophagoides farinae(D.f.), was significantly higher in RG(P=0.019, 0.025, respectively). When the cut-off value was 0.7 kU/L in CAP test, only a positive prevalence of house dust mites group was significantly higher in RG than CG (P=0.042). The quantitative levels of specific IgE for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus(D.p.) and D.f. were very high in RG(P=0.018, 0.028, respectively), significantly correlating with each other(r=0.639, P<0.05).
Conclusion
: Allergic sensitization, especially to house dust mites, is one important contributable factor in recurrent pneumonia in children. Further study, such as bronchial hyperresponsiveness, is needed in children who were sensitized by D.p. or D.f.. |
| Key Words:
Recurrent pneumonia, Allergy test, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae |
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