Aeroallergen sensitization patterns in children with allergic rhinitis from Guangzhou and Liuzhou in southern China

Background: The sensitization patterns of allergic rhinitis (AR) to allergens exhibit global variations, influenced by diverse geographical, climatic, cultural, and genetic determinants. We aimed to contrast the allergen profiles among children belonging to distinct ethnic groups residing in two disparate provinces of China, with the objective of elucidating the impact of environmental and genetic factors on the types of allergens. Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted on allergen sensitizations among children with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Guangzhou and Liuzhou from 2019 to 2023. The specific IgE response to a range of inhalant allergens was evaluated utilizing the ImmunoCAP 100 system. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS 20 software package. For comparisons, the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was employed, depending on the nature of the data and the assumptions of each test. Results: A total of 9684 AR children from Guangzhou and 1679 from Liuzhou were enrolled in the study. Notably, the sensitization rates toward D. . farinae, , D. pteronyssinus, , cat dander, dog dander, common ragweed, and mugwort were significantly elevated in Guangzhou compared to Liuzhou. However, the sensitization rates to cockroaches exhibited no notable disparities between the two cities. Conclusions: The allergen composition in AR children is similar between Guangzhou and Liuzhou, with D. farina and D. pteronyssinus as the main allergens. However, the sensitization rates of all allergens except for cockroaches in Guangzhou are higher than those in Liuzhou. Our results suggest that the causes of allergen sensitization are complex, and genetic and environmental factors cannot be ignored.