Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional study

Background: Allergic diseases are under-investigated and overlooked health conditions in developing countries. We measured the prevalence of food allergy (FA), airborne allergic disease, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in 2 socio-demographically disparate regions in Ecuador. We i...

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Main Authors: Diana A. Morillo-Argudo, Dolores S. Andrade Tenesaca, Claudia R. Rodas-Espinoza, Michael R. Perkin, Tesfalem Lukas Gebreegziabher, Gabriela A. Zuñiga, Diana D. Andrade Muñoz, Patricia L. Ramírez, Ana A. García García, Angélica M. Ochoa-Avilés
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-11-01
Series:World Allergy Organization Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455120303811
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language English
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author Diana A. Morillo-Argudo
Dolores S. Andrade Tenesaca
Claudia R. Rodas-Espinoza
Michael R. Perkin
Tesfalem Lukas Gebreegziabher
Gabriela A. Zuñiga
Diana D. Andrade Muñoz
Patricia L. Ramírez
Ana A. García García
Angélica M. Ochoa-Avilés
spellingShingle Diana A. Morillo-Argudo
Dolores S. Andrade Tenesaca
Claudia R. Rodas-Espinoza
Michael R. Perkin
Tesfalem Lukas Gebreegziabher
Gabriela A. Zuñiga
Diana D. Andrade Muñoz
Patricia L. Ramírez
Ana A. García García
Angélica M. Ochoa-Avilés
Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional study
World Allergy Organization Journal
Adolescent
Allergic sensitisation
Food allergy
Ecuador
author_facet Diana A. Morillo-Argudo
Dolores S. Andrade Tenesaca
Claudia R. Rodas-Espinoza
Michael R. Perkin
Tesfalem Lukas Gebreegziabher
Gabriela A. Zuñiga
Diana D. Andrade Muñoz
Patricia L. Ramírez
Ana A. García García
Angélica M. Ochoa-Avilés
author_sort Diana A. Morillo-Argudo
title Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional study
title_short Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional study
title_full Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional study
title_sort food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in ecuador: a cross-sectional study
publisher Elsevier
series World Allergy Organization Journal
issn 1939-4551
publishDate 2020-11-01
description Background: Allergic diseases are under-investigated and overlooked health conditions in developing countries. We measured the prevalence of food allergy (FA), airborne allergic disease, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in 2 socio-demographically disparate regions in Ecuador. We investigated which risk factors are associated with these conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 1338 students (mean age: 13 ± 0.9 years old) living in Cuenca (n = 876) and Santa Isabel (n = 462). History of allergic symptoms (noted by parents or doctor) to food, house dust mites (HDM), pollen, and pets were recorded. Sociodemographic characteristics, environmental exposures, and parental history of allergic disorders data were collected. Sensitisation to 19 food and 20 aeroallergens was measured by skin-prick testing (SPT). FA and airborne allergic diseases (to HDM, pollen, cat, or dog) were defined as a report of allergic symptoms noted by doctor, together with a positive SPT (wheal size ≥3 mm). Logistic regression models were used to identify environmental and parental factors associated with allergic conditions. Results: FA was prevalent among 0.4% (95% CI 0.2%–0.9%), and food sensitisation among 19.1% of the adolescents. Shrimp was the most frequent food linked with FA and food sensitisation. Risk factors associated with FA could not be evaluated due to the low prevalence. Food sensitisation was higher among adolescents exposed to family smoking (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.14–2.34, p = 0.008) and those with parental history of allergic disorders (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13–2.49, p = 0.01), but less common among adolescents owning dogs (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41–0.84, p = 0.003).Airborne allergic diseases were prevalent amongst 12.0% of the adolescents (95% CI: 10.4–13.9, n = 1321), with HDM as the primary allergen (11.2%). Airborne allergic diseases were less common among adolescents with more siblings (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.96, p = 0.02) and those who lived with farm animals in the first year of life (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.95, p = 0.04), but, most common among adolescents with a smoking family (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04–2.70, p = 0.03) and with a parental history of allergic disorders (OR self-perceived: 2.62, 95% CI 1.46–4.71, p = 0.001; OR diagnosed by a doctor: 4.07, 95% CI 2.44–6.80, p < 0.001). Conclusions: FA and airborne allergies are less prevalent in Ecuador than in developed regions; there is a great dissociation between the prevalence of allergic disease and allergic sensitisation. Shrimp and HDM were the most prevalent allergens. Risk factors identified in this study to be related to allergic diseases should be considered by physicians, health practitioners, and epidemiologists in Ecuador.
topic Adolescent
Allergic sensitisation
Food allergy
Ecuador
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455120303811
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spelling doaj-346a7795164a4a38a3a31fa226f55d4c2020-11-27T04:19:32ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512020-11-011311100478Food allergy, airborne allergies, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in two disparate socioeconomic regions in Ecuador: A cross-sectional studyDiana A. Morillo-Argudo0Dolores S. Andrade Tenesaca1Claudia R. Rodas-Espinoza2Michael R. Perkin3Tesfalem Lukas Gebreegziabher4Gabriela A. Zuñiga5Diana D. Andrade Muñoz6Patricia L. Ramírez7Ana A. García García8Angélica M. Ochoa-Avilés9Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorFaculty of Medicine, University of Azuay, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorPopulation Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, England, United KingdomUniversity of Ghent, Ghent, East Flanders, BelgiumNutrition School, Faculty of Medicine, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorDepartment of Biosciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador; Corresponding author. Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Cuenca, Avenue 12 Abril and Agustín Cueva, Cuenca, Azuay, EcuadorBackground: Allergic diseases are under-investigated and overlooked health conditions in developing countries. We measured the prevalence of food allergy (FA), airborne allergic disease, and allergic sensitisation among adolescents living in 2 socio-demographically disparate regions in Ecuador. We investigated which risk factors are associated with these conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 1338 students (mean age: 13 ± 0.9 years old) living in Cuenca (n = 876) and Santa Isabel (n = 462). History of allergic symptoms (noted by parents or doctor) to food, house dust mites (HDM), pollen, and pets were recorded. Sociodemographic characteristics, environmental exposures, and parental history of allergic disorders data were collected. Sensitisation to 19 food and 20 aeroallergens was measured by skin-prick testing (SPT). FA and airborne allergic diseases (to HDM, pollen, cat, or dog) were defined as a report of allergic symptoms noted by doctor, together with a positive SPT (wheal size ≥3 mm). Logistic regression models were used to identify environmental and parental factors associated with allergic conditions. Results: FA was prevalent among 0.4% (95% CI 0.2%–0.9%), and food sensitisation among 19.1% of the adolescents. Shrimp was the most frequent food linked with FA and food sensitisation. Risk factors associated with FA could not be evaluated due to the low prevalence. Food sensitisation was higher among adolescents exposed to family smoking (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.14–2.34, p = 0.008) and those with parental history of allergic disorders (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13–2.49, p = 0.01), but less common among adolescents owning dogs (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41–0.84, p = 0.003).Airborne allergic diseases were prevalent amongst 12.0% of the adolescents (95% CI: 10.4–13.9, n = 1321), with HDM as the primary allergen (11.2%). Airborne allergic diseases were less common among adolescents with more siblings (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.96, p = 0.02) and those who lived with farm animals in the first year of life (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.95, p = 0.04), but, most common among adolescents with a smoking family (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04–2.70, p = 0.03) and with a parental history of allergic disorders (OR self-perceived: 2.62, 95% CI 1.46–4.71, p = 0.001; OR diagnosed by a doctor: 4.07, 95% CI 2.44–6.80, p < 0.001). Conclusions: FA and airborne allergies are less prevalent in Ecuador than in developed regions; there is a great dissociation between the prevalence of allergic disease and allergic sensitisation. Shrimp and HDM were the most prevalent allergens. Risk factors identified in this study to be related to allergic diseases should be considered by physicians, health practitioners, and epidemiologists in Ecuador.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455120303811AdolescentAllergic sensitisationFood allergyEcuador