The prevalence of allergic and non-allergic bronchial asthma and the spectrum of sensitization among children of preschool age living in urban areas of the Altai Territory: a momentary population study

Information on the prevalence of allergic and non-allergic bronchial asthma among children of preschool age is limited due to insufficient amount of studies. At the same time, determining the phenotype of the disease is the key to choosing the optimal therapy and determining the prognosis. The objective: to establish the prevalence of allergic and non-allergic bronchial asthma in children of 3–6  years living in the urban areas of the Altai Territory, and to study the sensitization spectrum. The authors conducted a momentary population-based study, consisting of two stages. At the screening stage, the study included 3205 children of 3–6  years attending preschool educational institutions. Symptoms of bronchial asthma were determined using the ISAAC questionnaire. At the clinical stage, the diagnosis was verified by allergists based on the diagnostic criteria of GINA. The allergic phenotype of asthma was established with a positive prick test and / or at a level of specific blood IgE of > 0.35 kE / l to at least one allergen. The results. 5.7% of urban children of 3–6 years suffered bronchial asthma. Allergic asthma prevails over non-allergic one – 4 and 1.7%, respectively. The condition of most children is sensitized to 2 allergens and more, the most often case was a sensitization to house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (42.9%) birch pollen (34.3%) and cat epithelium (27.5%). The conclusion. 5.7% of children of 3–6  years living the in urban areas of the Altai Territory suffered bronchial asthma with a predominance of allergic phenotype.