The prevalence of polysensitization in children and its association with allergic manifestations is not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of polysensitization and its impact on allergic manifestations in children.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study from 1992 to 2019 including all children consulting for allergic manifestations with positive skin prick tests (SPT). Polisentization was defined by the positivity of SPT to two or more allergens from different families (group 2= G2).

Results

The study population included 2267 children. The median age was 8 years for children in group 2 and 7 years for those in group 1 (p=0.02). The sex ratio was similar between the two groups. Asthma was observed comparably between the two groups (67% vs 63%; p=0.05). Rhinitis and conjunctivitis were significantly more frequent in polysensitized children, respectively (81% (G2) vs 77% (G1); p=0.04 and 37.8% (G2) vs 32% (G1); p=0.004). Among polysensitized children, sensitization to two allergen families was observed in 68% of cases, to three families in 26% of cases, ans to four families in 5.7% of cases. The most frequent associations were mites-animals 39%, mites-pollens 35% and pollens-animals 25%,. The presence of multiple allergic manifestations was significantly associated with polysensitization (1 symptom 29% G2 vs 37% G1, 2 symptoms 48% G2 vs 44% G1, and 3 symptoms 22% G2 vs 17% G1; p<0.0001), and the more the number of allergens increased the more the association of symptoms was observed (p<0.001)

Conclusion

Polysensitization was frequent in children and it was significantly associated with multiple allergic manifestations.These findings suggest the need for careful evaluation and management of these children to improve their quality of life.