Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
GUNCEL PEDIATRI-JOURNAL OF CURRENT PEDIATRICS, cilt.23, sa.3, ss.231-242, 2025 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
Introduction: Cat and dog allergens are among the inhalant allergens that are important risk factors for the development of allergic diseases in childhood. In recent years, there has been an increase in the adoption of pets (cats, dogs, etc.) and their care at home. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated characteristics of cat and dog allergen sensitization in asthmatic children aged 0-18 in our region. Materials and Methods: 880 asthmatic pediatric patients (0-18 years old) who admitted to the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Allergy and were diagnosed with asthma were included in the study. Sensitization of asthmatic pediatric patients to cat allergen, dog allergen, and other inhalant allergens (based on skin prick test results), gender, age, serum total IgE levels, and the presence of other concomitant allergic diseases were retrospectively analyzed. Findings: The study's inclusion of 880 children diagnosed with asthma had a 39% female (n= 343), 61% male (n=537) distribution. The most common allergic disease associated with asthma was allergic rhinitis (n= 402, 44.9%). Sensitivity to at least one inhalant allergen (presence of atopy) was detected by skin prick tests in 55.7% (n=490). Sensitivity to cat allergen was detected in 8.3% (n=73). The distribution of sensitivity to cat allergen by age was as follows: 3.7% in the 0-3 age, 6.7% in the 4-6 age,14.5% in the 7-12 age, 9.8% in the 13-18 age group. Sensitivity to dog allergen was found in 41(4.7%) children in the study population, with the distribution by age being: 2.4% in the 0-3 age, 2.7% in the 4-6 age, 8.7% in the 7-12 age, and 6.5% in the 13-18 age group. The rates of cat/dog sensitization were higher in boys but statistically significant difference was found only for dog allergens. Conclusion: The prevalence of cat and dog allergies in asthmatic children in the Bursa region was found to be significantly high, requiring attention. The fact that cat and dog allergen sensitivities increase with age suggests that this situation should be taken into consideration in the follow-up of these patients and that patients should be re-evaluated in these respects as they age.