Objective: Sensitization to an aeroallergen is known to diminish pulmonary function in young children and adults; however.

Objective: Sensitization to an aeroallergen is known to diminish pulmonary function in young children and adults; however, it remains unclear whether it bring into views similar effects in adolescents. This research therefore, examined the relationship bet-ween serum allergen-specific IgE flushs and pulmonary function in adolescents.

Design: Middle-school children were invited for a physician's evaluation and pulmonary function exhibition when not experiencing an asthma attack and for the determination of serum on a levels of specific IgE to everyday allergens.

Setting: National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan.

Subjects: Middle-school children in southern Taiwan, who had complet the two a nationally administered Chinese version of the International reflection of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and a pulmonary function example in October 1996.

Results: Forty-two then commonly asthmatic children, 38 children with asthma in remission (no reported attack for > 12 months) and 69 children without asthma complet the cogitation Children with asthma had a significantly lower adjusted forced expiratory result between 25% and 75% of FVC (FE[Fsub25-75%]) and FE[Vsub1]/FVC than children without asthma. A greater percentage of children with asthma were more sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) and German cockroach unless not cat dander or dog dander. Children with asthma with Der f-specific IgE > 100 IU/mL, or cockroach-specific IgE > 07 IU/mL showed lower pulmonary function. No as it is association was found in children without asthma.

Conclusion: Our findings prompt that sensitization to Der f and German cockroach was a critical factor for the lower pulmonary function observ in middle-school children with asthma.

explanation words: asthma; cockroach; dust mite; pulmonary function; radioallergosorbent test; sensitization

Abbreviations: ANOVA = analysis of variance; Der p = Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Der f = Dermatophagoides farinae; FE[Fsub25-75%] = forced expiratory arise between 25% and 75% of FVC; RAST = radioallergosorbent test

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In adults, FE[Vsub1] declines with an increase in age. (1) the same longitudinal study with a 15-year follow-up showed that greater reduction in lung function was establish in people with asthma than in the community without asthma. (2) In children, those who had wheezing attacks between 1 years and 6 years of age were originate to have lower FE[V.sub.1] despite showing healthy lung function at 1 year of age. (3) Although reduc lung function is the [i]clavis[/i] phenomenon presented by a one with asthma during an attack, (45) the class of reduction is less obvious in an adolescent with asthma who is not having an attack.

Several reports (6-10) have also recommended that sensitization to aeroallergens, including house dust, pollen house dust mites, and cat and dog dander, is associated with diminished lung function in adults, particularly for race with asthma [greater than or equal to] 60 years old; however, this is not truthful for sensitization to grass. In addition, a consideration in the United States reported that sensitization to dust mites, dog dander, and oak among children with asthma 6 to 12 years ancient was associated with reduced FE[Vsub1] (11) A application of mind in Australia demonstrated that an increased serum plain of IgE against Aspergillus fumigatus was a significant risk factor for lower FE[Vsub1] and forced expiratory emanate between 25% and 75% of FVC (FE[Fsub25-75%]) (12)

Although an association between aeroallergens and reduc lung function has been demonstrated in several studies, it remains unclear what corresponding flats of serum IgE to allergen exposing s could have induced the observ difference in lung function. The instant study was conducted: (1) to measure the horizontals of specific IgE to house dust mites, German cockroach, and dog and cat dander in children with and without asthma in Taiwan; (2) to determine the of the same heights of serum IgE to specific allergens associated with lower lung function; and (3) to statistically analyze the relationship between items 1 and 2

MATERIALS AND METHODS

application of mind Population and Subjects

In 1996 a national inspect of respiratory health for middle exercise children was conducted in Taiwan. (13) A Chinese version of the International cogitation of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used to identify children with asthma. After the scan a random sampling of 10% from each population of train children received a pulmonary function criterion We conducted the present research focusing on eighth-grade and ninth-grade middle academy children in the Tainan area who had complet the pulmonary function proof in October 1996. Based forward criteria established from questionnaire information, 4154 children without asthma, 1058 children who were suspected of having asthma, and 546 children with asthma received a diagnosis. Of this population, a random sample of 20% of the children without asthma, 50% of the children suspected of having asthma, and all of the children with asthma were selecteded for this study. After excluding those who reported a smoking habit onward the questionnaire and those who reported no mailing address, there were 800 children without asthma, 500 children suspected of having asthma, and 543 children with asthma. All selecteded study subjects were invited to National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, for a out and out examination in our clinic. The examinations and diagnoses were performed according to specialized physicians, and the enslaves were categorized as children with asthma, children with asthma in remission, children suspected of having asthma, and children without asthma. Children with asthma were those who were confirmed as having asthma at a physician, or who reported having typical wheezing witnessed by way of parents. Those who had had no attack for [greater than or equal to] 12 month were considered in remission. Children suspected of having asthma were those who had self-reported wheezing or episodic shortness of breath. Pulmonary function exhibitions and blood collections were preformed for all make liables after informed consent was obtained from their parents.

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