Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Allergen Sensitivity in Children With Respiratory Allergy

<strong>Objective: </strong>Aeroallergens are known to play an important role in respiratory allergic diseases, especially allergic rhinitis and asthma. This study aimed to determine the effect of lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic on allergen sensitivity in pediatric patients with symptoms of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. We also aimed to determine whether there was an increase in the frequency of indoor allergen sensitivity. <strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> We included patients aged 2-18 years who presented to the Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Clinic of Istanbul Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital between March 1, 2018, and March 1, 2022, and had skin prick test. Skin prick test results ; detected aeroallergen sensitivity, and reaction diameter, age, gender, diagnosis of these patients were recorded. We also collected the data of serum total IgE and eosinophils (%) from the hospital database. We compared the pre-pandemic and the pandemic group results for statistical significance. <strong>Results:</strong> In this study, 4609 test results taken from 4383 patients were evaluated. Of the 4609 tests performed, 2753 (59.7%) belonged to the pre-pandemic period. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP) was the most common sensitivity of the skin prick test, followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (DF). The results were compared between the two groups. Pandemic DF (44.2%) and DP sensitivity (53.3%) were significantly higher than pre-pandemic DF (32.5%) and DP (43.7%) sensitivity. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>As a result, the start of the distance education process and increased time spent at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected allergen sensitivity in children with allergic symptoms. It is very important to determine allergen sensitivities and to know which factors are responsible for the changes in the prevalence of sensitization in order to avoid the allergen and to provide allergen-specific immunotherapy treatment in allergic diseases.