INVESTIGATION OF ALLERGEN SENSITIVITY OF SYRIAN REFUGEE CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIC DISEASES

Background: The aim of this study was identification of the allergic sensitivities of Syrian refugee children residing in Western Turkey and diagnosed with various allergic diseases. Materials and methods: Syrian refugee children younger than 18 constituted the target population of this study. A group of patients were assigned to the control group. The levels of total immunoglobulin E, A, G, M, eosinophil counts and percentages, and the results of inhalant and food allergy tests of patients and controls were all recorded. Results: The entire study cohort consisted of 34 patients (23 boys, 11 girls) in the study group and 30 patients (20 boys, 10 girls) in the control group. There were statistically significant relationships between patients and controls about eosinophil counts and percentages (p= 0.005, p < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: Our study is the first report investigating the allergic sensitivities of Syrian children to the best of our knowledge. We believe that our findings will enlighten the approach of the clinicians taking care of Syrian children in different countries hosting Syrian refugees. Keywords: inhalant allergen sensitivity, food allergen sensitivity, Syrian refugee, allergic disease