D2.75 - Allergy to insects in children

Insect allergy (IA) can be induced by bites, inhalation, and ingestion.  The  prevalence of insect allergy in children, and  risk factors for  development of  insect allergy (mosquitos), were assessed in children from  Moscow.

A survey of 1,587 children (965 males and 622 females, age  1 to 18 years with average  8.19±3.97 years old) reviewed the presence of reactivity to insect and clinical features of IA. Total IgE in  serum was assayed by  ELISA.   Specific IgE to  D.pteronyssinus and D.farine, cockroach, mosquito, wasp venom, bee venom, shrimp, cod, salmon, dog, cat ,tree pollen mix (birch, alder, hazel mix),  grass pollen mix (timothy grass, fescue, ryegrass, rye mix), and weed pollen mix (wormwood, ragweed)  were analyzed  by  ImmunoCAP.  The main group (n=705, mean age 7.17±3.69 years)  including children with atopic  diseases  was compared with a control group of  children (mean age 5.7±3.56 years) without allergy.

The main group of 247 (35%) atopic  children with  symptoms due to mosquito bites and  183  (mean age 5.7±3.56 years) with sensitization to cockroach. 88.7% of IA children had local reactions of varying severity and 11.3%  had systemic reactions from mild to moderate severity. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) was 22.7%  in children sensitive to mosquito being greater (p<0.05) than atopic children without  mosquito sensitivity (13.3%) similar to children with Chronic Urticaria (3.2% versus 1.4%).  No significant differences (p < 0.05) were noted in the frequency of local reactions   to mosquito bites in children with and without atopy (88.7% versus 85.7%). Symptoms were more severe in the IA group age 4-7 years. There were significant differences in total IgE and  eosinophils in patients with and without IA  (p<0.05). Total IgE in IA patients was significantly greater than in healthy controls (p<0.05). Mosquito sensitivity  can lead to allergy to fish and shellfish.. Children with allergy to mosquitoes more often had allergy to fish or shellfish  than atopic ones without IA  (19.3% versus 12.5%,) and  often had  IgE-mediated anaphylaxis when consuming fish or shellfish (2.7% and 1.8%).

The prevalence of insect allergy in atopic  is  greater than in non-atopic children. The prevalence of  atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria  in children sensitive to mosquito bites is  greater than in children not sensitive to mosquitoes.  Mosquitoes allergy may lead to  allergy to fish and shellfish.