Spectra of sensitization to aeroallergens in patients with allergy from the upper chirchik district of the Republic of Uzbekistan

BACKGROUND: Allergic airway diseases caused by hypersensitivity to aeroallergens are the most common manifestation of atopy in children and adults. However, sensitization in the population primarily depends on the allergenic composition of the air environment. Identification of sensitization is a prerequisite for successful treatment of allergic diseases, although the structure of sensitization may have regional characteristics.

AIM: To study the spectrum of sensitization in people with allergic diseases, namely, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma of varying severity, and atopic dermatitis, in the Upperchirchik district of the Tashkent region, which is characterized by a long period of flowering of weeds (wormwood, saltwort, and quinoa, from the end of August to the end of November), cereals (timothy, foxtail, rye, and bluegrass), and herbs (from the end of February to the end of July); the duration of flowering is associated with the peculiarities of climatic and geographic conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January to May 2022, a clinical and allergological examination was conducted on 100 patients with allergic diseases; of these, 38 were children aged 2–18 years (including 20 children with allergic rhinitis, 12 with bronchial asthma, 6 with atopic dermatitis) and 62 were adults (including 32 patients with allergic rhinitis, 13 with bronchial asthma, 17 with atopic dermatitis). To study the total IgE in the blood serum, allergen-specific IgE and standard diagnostic allergens were used for skin testing.

RESULTS: Among all examined patients, the most frequent were intermittent and persistent forms of allergic rhinitis in 52 (52%), bronchial asthma in 25 (25%), atopic dermatitis in 23 (23%), combination of allergic rhinitis + bronchial asthma in 13 (13%), allergic rhinitis + atopic dermatitis in 12 (12%), and atopic dermatitis + bronchial asthma in 9 (9%) patients. Combined sensitization to pollen and household and food allergens was detected in 90% of the patients, monosensitization to allergens of cereal grasses (meadow Timothy and meadow bluegrass) in 6% and to allergens of weeds (wormwood and quinoa) in 4%. Sensitization to house dust (h1) was detected in 29 children and 51 adults. The frequency of sensitization to food allergens was higher in children than in adults: to cow’s milk allergens in 28.9% of children and 8.1% of adults; to egg allergens in 44.7% of children and 24.2% of adults; and to nut allergens in 38.7% of children and 34.2% of adults.

CONCLUSION: The spectrum of sensitization to allergens in patients with allergic diseases in the Upperchirchik district of the Tashkent region is characterized by a predominance of sensitization to pollens and household allergens in children and adults, with a significant proportion of polysensitized patients in all age groups.