Characteristics of Infants with Early Life Sensitization to House Dust Mites

Sensitization to house dust mites (HDM) in early life is a risk factor for poor respiratory allergy outcomes. We analyzed characteristics of HDM sIgE positive infants and compare with negative infants under the age of 2. Of the 1,793 infants who tested for HDM sIgE, 96 (5.4%) had HDM sensitization. In the HDM (+) group, atopic dermatitis was 74.0% (90.9% at the age of less than 12 months), food allergies 57.3% (<12 months, 100%), egg white sensitization 71.9% (<12 months, 90.9%), and cow’s milk sensitization 56.3% (<12 months, 81.8%). Atopic dermatitis, food allergy, ≥4 episodes of wheezing, physician-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinitis, egg white sensitization, cow’s milk sensitization, and sensitization to three or more food allergens were significantly more frequent in the HDM (+) group compared to the HDM (-) group. The HDM sIgE and total IgE levels and HDM sIgE and egg white sIgE levels showed significant correlations. HDM sensitization in infants is mostly accompanied by atopic dermatitis and egg white sensitization. Early sensitization to HDMs should be carefully observed in infants with atopic dermatitis and food allergies, especially those with high total IgE and egg white sIgE.