Researchers analyzed serum specific IgE testing results from 19,787 patients with suspected allergic diseases at a hospital in Ningbo, China. They looked at how often people reacted to 15 common inhalant and food allergens and how these patterns changed over time and across different groups. The study found that dust mites were the most frequent cause of sensitization at 37.0%, followed by milk at 14.3% and mixed grasses at 6.4%.
The data showed that sensitization rates varied significantly by year. Men showed higher sensitization rates to multiple allergens than women. Additionally, the types of allergens changed with age; early childhood was dominated by food allergens like milk and egg white, while adolescence and adulthood shifted toward inhalant allergens like dust mites and grasses. Patients with allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis each showed distinct sensitization profiles.
It is important to remember that a positive test indicates sensitization, not necessarily a confirmed clinical allergy. These results reflect a selected group of symptomatic patients, not the general population. Readers should consider age, sex, and disease type when interpreting these findings, as they help optimize diagnostic panels and support targeted prevention strategies.