Mi Ae Kim

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Urticaria With a Focus on Chronic Urticaria in Children

Purpose Limited data is available on the prevalence and risk factors of acute and chronic urticaria in children. Our purpose was to determine the prevalence and identify the risk factors of acute and chronic urticaria in Korean children. Methods This population-based study examined 4,076 children (age 4 to 13 years) who were enrolled in the 2015 prospective Seongnam Atopy Project (SAP 2015) in Korea. The parents completed an urticaria questionnaire that included questions regarding the duration, severity, and triggering factors of urticaria. Blood sampling (n=464) was performed to measure vitamin D, total eosinophil count (TEC), and total IgE levels, and skin prick tests (n=503) were done. Results The prevalences of the life-time, acute, and chronic urticaria were 22.5%, 13.9%, and 1.8% (chronic continuous urticaria, 0.7%; and chronic recurrent urticaria, 1.1%), respectively. Acute urticaria was significantly associated with allergic diseases and parental history of allergy (P<0.001), but chronic urticaria was not associated with these clinical factors. There was no significant difference in the 25-hydroxyvitamin D level between subjects with chronic urticaria and controls (P=0.124). Chronic continuous urticaria was associated with living in a new residence (aOR=2.38, 95% CI=1.02-5.54, P=0.044) and belonging to a family with a high income (aOR=4.24, 95% CI=1.24-14.56, P=0.022). Conclusions A total of 1.8% of children were found to have chronic urticaria. Living in a new residence and belonging to a family with a high income increased the risk of chronic continuous urticaria.

An association between periostin levels with the severity and chronicity of atopic dermatitis in children

Serum periostin might be a biomarker in the pathogenesis of T helper 2‐type allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum periostin levels and the severity and chronicity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children.

Response to Nonallergenic Irritants in Children With Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis

Purpose Nonallergenic irritants can aggravate the symptoms of rhinitis. We investigated the clinical responses of children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) to nonallergenic irritants, and identified factors associated with these responses. Methods Children with chronic rhinitis (n=208) were classified as having AR or NAR based on the presence of aeroallergen-specific IgE. Healthy controls (n=24) were recruited for comparison. The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines were used to classify patients, and their irritant score (0-21 points) and current symptom score (5-35 points) were measured. Subjects with irritant scores ≥3 and <3 were classified as having irritant and nonirritant rhinitis, respectively. Results The mean age of enrolled subjects was 6.8 years (range: 1.8-16.0 years). The AR and NAR groups had similar irritant scores (P=0.394) and proportions of subjects with irritant scores ≥3 (P=0.105). Irritant score correlated positively with symptom score (P=0.005), and the proportion of subjects with irritant scores ≥3 was greater in children with moderate-severe rhinitis than in those with mild rhinitis (P=0.046). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of atopic eczema increased the risk for sensitivity to a nonallergenic irritant (aOR=2.928, 95% CI 1.567-5.473, P=0.001). Conclusions Response to a nonallergenic irritant was useful for gauging the severity of rhinitis, but not for differentiating AR from NAR. AR and NAR patients with atopic eczema may increase nasal sensitivity to nonallergenic irritants.

Serum lipid levels are associated with allergic rhinitis, nasal symptoms, peripheral olfactory function, and nasal airway patency in children

Extensive studies support the presence of links between dyslipidemia and allergic diseases, and there has been with particular emphasis on allergen sensitization1-3 , asthma2,4 , and atopic dermatitis (AD). Although evidence supporting a link of allergic rhinitis (AR) with dyslipidemia is limited and controversial2,3 , many researchers have focused on the relationship of obesity and rhinitis, rather than blood lipids.5 This study determined the association of different blood lipids with current rhinitis and rhinitis-related parameters, including nasal symptoms, peripheral olfactory function, and nasal volume. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Local Allergic Rhinitis in Children Sensitized to House Dust Mites

Objective: The prevalence of local allergic rhinitis (LAR) in nonatopic children remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and severity of LAR in children in comparison to classical allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR). Study Design: A total of 145 children (aged 1-18 years) were enrolled and classified into 3 groups (AR, NAR, and LAR) based on a skin prick test (SPT) and a nasal provocation test (NPT) with house dust mite, i.e., Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. NPT positivity was defined as a symptom score ≥2 standard deviations (SDs) above the healthy control score. Results: Eighty-one children had AR (55.9%), and 64 (44.1%) had symptoms of rhinitis with negative SPT; 59 NAR (40.7%) and 5 LAR (3.4%) children were identified. The κ score for agreement between the SPT and the NPT results was 0.778 (95% CI 0.726-0.830, p < 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between wheal diameter and maximum nasal symptom score provoked by D.pteronyssinus (rho = 0.589, p < 0.001). Nasal severity according to the ARIA guideline did not show any differences in the 3 groups (p = 0.693). The AR group was older than the LAR and NAR groups (AR > LAR > NAR, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Despite the evidence to support the existence of LAR in pediatric populations, we found that its prevalence was relatively low, possibly due to the high rate of agreement between SPT and NPT. Further investigations are needed to identify immunological as well as clinical implications of LAR.

Clinical Implications of Oscillatory Lung Function during Methacholine Bronchoprovocation Testing of Preschool Children

OBJECTIVE To investigate the repeatability and safety of measuring impulse oscillation system (IOS) parameters and the point of wheezing during bronchoprovocation testing of preschool children. METHODS Two sets of methacholine challenge were conducted in 36 asthma children. The test was discontinued if there was a significant change in reactance (Xrs5) and resistance (Rrs5) at 5 Hz (Condition 1) or respiratory distress due to airway obstruction (Condition 2). The repeatability of PC80_Xrs5, PC30_Rrs5, and wheezing (PCw) was assessed. The changes in Z-scores and SD-indexes from prebaseline (before testing) to postbaseline (after bronchodilator) were determined. RESULTS For PC30_Rrs5, PC80_Xrs5, and PCw for subjects, PC80_Xrs5 showed the highest repeatability. Fifteen of 70 tests met Condition 2. The changes from pre- and postbaseline values varied significantly for Rrs5 and Xrs5. Excluding subjects with Z-scores higher than 2SD, we were able to detect 97.1% of bronchial hyperresponsiveness during methacholine challenge based on the change in Rrs5 or Xrs5. A change in IOS parameters was associated with wheezing at all frequencies. CONCLUSION Xrs5 and Rrs5 have repeatability comparable with FEV1, and Xrs5 is more reliable than Rrs5. Clinicians can safely perform a challenge test by measuring the changes in Rrs5, Xrs5, and Z-scores from the prebaseline values.

Poor sleep quality has an adverse effect on childhood asthma control and lung function measures

It is unclear as to whether sleep respiratory breathing disorder (SRBD) is a risk factor for uncontrolled asthma in children. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether SRBD may have an adverse effect on childhood asthma control and lung function measures.

Unmet Primary Physicians' Needs for Allergic Rhinitis Care in Korea

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic allergic respiratory diseases worldwide. Various practical guidelines for AR have been developed and updated to improve the care of AR patients; however, up to 40% patients remain symptomatic. The unmet need for AR care is one of the greatest public health problems in the world. The gaps between guideline and real-world practice, and differences according to the region, culture, and medical environments may be the causes of unmet needs for AR care. Because there is no evidence-based AR practical guideline reflecting the Korean particularity, various needs are increasing. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether existing guidelines are sufficient for AR patient management in real practice and whether development of regional guidelines to reflect regional differences is needed in Korea. A total of 99 primary physicians comprising internists, pediatricians, and otolaryngologists (n=33 for each) were surveyed by a questionnaire relating to unmet needs for AR care between June 2 and June 16 of 2014. Among 39 question items, participants strongly agreed on 15 items that existing guidelines were highly insufficient and needed new guidelines. However, there was some disagreement according to specialties for another 24 items. In conclusion, the survey results demonstrated that many physicians did not agree with the current AR guideline, and a new guideline reflecting Korean particularity was needed.