Distributional Characteristics Analysis of Allergens in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis in Southern Fujian Province, China

Abstract

Jingjing He,1– 3 Jing Gao,1– 3 Yan Zhao,4 Shuai Chen1,3 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361003, People’s Republic of China; 2Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, 361003, People’s Republic of China; 3Xiamen Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiamen, 361003, People’s Republic of China; 4Army 73rd Group Military Hospital, Chenggong Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shuai Chen, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, No. 55, Zhenhai Road, Siming District, Xiamen, 361005, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Yan Zhao, Army 73rd group military hospital, Chenggong Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, No. 92-96, Wenyuan Road, Siming District, Xiamen, 361000, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa. However, few studies focus on the distributional characteristics of allergens in AR patients in Southern Fujian Province, China.Methods: A skin prick test (SPT) was performed and eight common allergens including Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt), weeds, animal dander, molds, cockroaches, and mangoes were chosen.Results: The positive reactions rate to the allergens was 65.79% in 6689 patients in Southern Fujian Province. Positive reactions to Df and Dpt had a negative association with age, whereas positive reactions to cockroach and weed had a positive association with age. A linear trend analysis demonstrated a significant positive relationship between positive reactions to various allergens from 2016 to 2019. Positive reactions to Df and Dpt were both correlated with the season. Positive reactions to Df, Dpt, cockroach and weed were related to disease duration and positive reactions to cockroach were correlated with city residence. Multivariate analysis revealed that male positive reactions gradually decreased with age (≤ 60), in contrast to female (≤ 60) positive reactions. Statistical difference was observed between the genders with regard to AR incidence from 2016 to 2019. The positive rate of skin tests was highest in summer in men, whereas in women it was lowest in summer. The gender composition ratios of positive cases in Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and Quanzhou cities differed significantly. The proportion of patients with positive reactions to the allergens in the three cities decreased with age. The highest proportions of patients with positive reactions all occurred during summer in the three cities. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in the age composition ratios across the seasons.Conclusion: This study analyzed the distributional characteristics of AR allergens in Southern Fujian Province, China. These findings will inform specific immunotherapy for AR patients.Keywords: allergic rhinitis, allergen, skin prick test, Southern Fujian Province in China

Keywords

• allergic rhinitis
• allergen
• skin prick test
• southern fujian province in china