ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the influence of changes in human lifestyle and living environment caused by nonpharmaceutical interventions in COVID-19 on allergic diseases. Method: The present study enrolled children who came to the Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University for allergen detection between January 2019 and December 2020. By comparing the positive rates and levels of various allergen-specific IgE before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the influence of changes in human lifestyle and the living environment caused by prevention and control measures in COVID-19 on allergic diseases was evaluated. Results: In 2019, 41,648 allergic children went to the hospital, but in 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the number decreased to 24,714. In 2020, the number of allergy visits were the lowest in February and gradually increased. There were 45,879 children with total IgE>17.5 IU/mL in two years, accounting for 69.13% of the total samples, of which the proportion was 68.52% (28,536/41,648) in 2019 and 70.17% (17,343/24,714) in 2020. A total of 29,906 children were positive for one or more allergens in two years. It accounts for 45.06% of the total number of samples, of which the proportion is 41.53% (17296/41648) in 2019 and 51.02% (12610/24714) in 2020. Except for cashew nuts, the positive number of other allergens in 2020 was less than in 2019, especially after June and July 2020. Except for Artemisia argyi, the positive rates of other allergens in 2020 were significantly higher than those in 2019 (P<0.05). Moreover, the changing trend of the positive allergen rate in each month in 2020 was different from that in 2019. In 2020, except for D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus and Crab, specific IgE levels of other allergens were not greater than those in 2019 (P<0.05). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions played a protective role in reducing children’s exposure to allergens and alleviating allergic reactions.
Fuente: Journal of Medical of Virology
First published: 21 December 202
