Allergen Sensitization in Allergic Skin Diseases in Suzhou, East China: A Retrospective Study from 2021 to 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Allergen distribution varies geographically, and local epidemiological data can guide disease prevention and management. We investigated allergen sensitization among patients with three types of allergic skin disease in Suzhou, East China, from 2021 to 2023.

Methods: Serum-specific immunoglobulin-E levels were analyzed from 4,603 patients who visited The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2021 and December 2023. Sensitization prevalence to 20 allergen species was assessed, considering age, sex, year, and disease type.

Results: Common aeroallergens included Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and house dust, while major food allergens were soybean, egg, and crab. Children exhibited higher sensitization rates, with males more sensitized to D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, Alternaria, and milk, and females more sensitized to Blattella germanica and egg. Compared with previous years, sensitization rates for soybean and milk decreased in 2023, whereas those for D. farinae and crab increased. Patients with atopic dermatitis had the highest overall sensitization rates.

Conclusion: Allergen sensitization patterns in Suzhou varied by age, sex, year, and disease type. Understanding these patterns can help improve the management of allergic skin diseases in this region.