435 Increasing Incidence of Food Allergy in Zimbabwe

432 Patterns of Sensitization to Common Food and inhalant Allergens and Allergic Symptoms in Preschool Children Man Yong Han, MD. Pediatrics, CHA University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Background: The prevalence of sensitization to allergens and symptoms of allergic disease differ with regard to age, but the relationship is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of allergen sensitization and allergic symptoms with regard to age in early childhood. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 629 children. Current allergic symptoms were assessed using the Korean-language ISAAC questionnaires adapted for preschool-aged children. The sensitization to five aeroand 3 foodallergens was evaluated by skin prick test. Results: The prevalence of current asthma decreased (20.5%/8.2%), current rhinitis increased (36.1%/56.1%) with increasing age from 3 to 6 years, while no change in the prevalence of current eczema (16.9%/15.3%). Similarly, as age increased, sensitization rates to inhalant allergens increased (21%/33%), those to food allergens decreased (10%/2%). The prevalence of polysensitized children increased (8%/22%), monosensitized children decreased (18%/ 11%) with age, but atopic state did not change with age (27%/33%). The agreement rate between sensitization to dust mite and atopic state increased with age, showing a rate of 93% at 6 years (P 1⁄4 0.05). The presence of atopic dermatitis in the first 2 years of life (aOR 1⁄4 4.1, 2.2–7.6, P , 0.001) and polysensitization (aOR 1⁄4 3.0, 1.4–5.0, P , 0.005) were significant risk factors for current rhinoconjunctivitis. In contrast, monosensitization was a risk factor for current asthma (aOR 1⁄4 2.1, 1.1–4.1, P , 0.024) and current eczema (aOR 1⁄4 2.1, 1.0–4.3, P , 0.042). Conclusions: These data showed that the type and numbers of sensitization and allergic symptoms changed with age in early childhood. Polysensitization may play an important role in allergic march.