A survey of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis in children
in southwest China: a case-control study
Abstract
Background Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic
conjunctivitis (PAC) were the most usual types of allergic
conjunctivitis. House dust mites were the most common sensitization
agents for SAC and PAC. This study aimed to explore SAC and PAC risk
factors in children. Methods We recruited 176 children suffering from
SAC or PAC and 131 control subjects in southwest China. A questionnaire
, several eye exams and the skin prick test (SPT) were performed.The
scores of the symptoms/signs were recorded. Results The percentage of
children that had ever been breastfed in the case group was lower than
in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of parental allergy
history in the case group was higher than for the control group
(P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the case group was
more likely to have other systemic allergic diseases
(P<0.01).The incidence rate of adenoidal
hypertrophy (ATH) in case group was higher than control group
(P<0.05). The ocular symptoms and signs scores had significant
correlation to the course (P<0.05), but no correlation to the
SPT results (P>0.05). Conclusion Allergic conjunctivitis
may coexist with a variety of allergic diseases, and SAC and PAC may be
a risk factor for ATH. Breastfeeding should be recommended, as it may be
an alleviating factor for allergic diseases, especially for children of
parents with a history of allergic diseases. The disease severity is
closely related to its course. Therefore, to avoid difficulty in
treatment caused by the aggravation of symptoms and signs, timely
antiallergic treatment was recommended.