Skin Prick Testing in a Portuguese Pediatric Population: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study of Clinical and Allergen Sensitization Profiles

Authors

  • Manuel Lima Ferreira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Tâmega e Sousa. Penafiel. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9579-3696
  • João Nogueira Oliveira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Santo António. Porto.
  • Mariana Pinto Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Entre Douro e Vouga. Santa Maria da Feira.
  • Arménia Oliveira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Entre Douro e Vouga. Santa Maria da Feira.
  • Paulo Guimarães Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Entre Douro e Vouga. Santa Maria da Feira.
  • Aida Azevedo Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Médio Ave. Famalicão.
  • Filipa Almeida Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Médio Ave. Famalicão.
  • Fernanda Carvalho Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Médio Ave. Famalicão.
  • Inês Falcão Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde. Póvoa de Varzim.
  • Maria José Dinis Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde. Póvoa de Varzim.
  • Conceição Silva Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde. Póvoa de Varzim.
  • Rita S. Pereira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Vila Real.
  • Raquel S. Santos Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Vila Real.
  • Márcia Quaresma Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Vila Real.
  • André Assunção Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde São João. Porto.
  • Diana Bordalo Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde São João. Porto.
  • Sylvia Jacob Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde São João. Porto.
  • David Gomes Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alentejo Central. Évora.
  • Hunilla Jacinto Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alentejo Central. Évora.
  • António Bento Guerra Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alentejo Central. Évora.
  • Sofia Guedes Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Lezíria. Santarém.
  • Patrícia Silva Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Lezíria. Santarém.
  • Daniela Henriques Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Lezíria. Santarém.
  • Armandina Silva Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alto Ave. Guimarães.
  • Marta Santalha Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alto Ave. Guimarães.
  • Teresa São Simão Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alto Ave. Guimarães.
  • Inês Eiras Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alto Minho. Viana do Castelo.
  • Mariana Santos Nobre Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alto Minho. Viana do Castelo.
  • Helena Ramalho Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Alto Minho. Viana do Castelo.
  • Rita Salgueiro Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde da Guarda. Guarda.
  • Lara Torres Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde da Guarda. Guarda.
  • Pedro Guerra Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde da Guarda. Guarda.
  • Rita Barroca Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos. Matosinhos.
  • Ana Luísa Correia Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos. Matosinhos.
  • Georgeta Oliveira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos. Matosinhos.
  • Rita Lages Pereira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde de Braga. Braga.
  • Fábia Carvalho Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde de Braga. Braga.
  • Margarida Reis Morais Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde de Braga. Braga.
  • Diana S. Pinto Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Santo António. Porto.
  • Ana Rita Araújo Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Santo António. Porto.
  • Mafalda Moreira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Tâmega e Sousa. Penafiel.
  • Sandra Teixeira Pediatrics Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Tâmega e Sousa. Penafiel.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.23882

Keywords:

Allergens, Child, Hypersensitivity, Portugal, Skin Tests

Abstract

Introduction: Allergic diseases, particularly allergic rhinitis and asthma are highly prevalent among children and adolescents and frequently associated with sensitization to inhalant allergens. However, recent data on sensitization profiles in the Portuguese pediatric population are scarce, especially regarding regional and demographic variability. In this context, we aimed to characterize the clinical and allergen sensitization profiles of children and adolescents with allergic diseases in Portugal, through a multicenter approach.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study across 14 Portuguese hospitals between January 2021 and June 2023. Children and adolescents (< 18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of allergic diseases and at least one positive skin prick test to inhalant allergens were included. Demographic, clinical, and environmental data were collected from electronic medical records. Skin prick tests followed European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology recommendations. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 29.
Results: A total of 3456 patients were included (60.5% male; median age 10 years). Allergic rhinitis (78.1%) and asthma (54.5%) were the most common diagnoses and 43.1% presented with both conditions. Sensitization was most frequent to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (84.3%) and Dermatophagoides farinae (74.3%), followed by Lepidoglyphus destructor (57.8%), grass pollens (60.4%), and Blomia tropicalis (23.5%). Polysensitization occurred in 58.4% of patients. Sensitization patterns varied with age. Geographic differences were noted: house dust mites sensitization predominated in coastal regions, whereas sensitization to pollens, molds, and animal epithelia was more frequent inland. Migrant children (14.2%) showed lower sensitization rates to most allergens, despite a comparable disease burden.
Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first multicenter study to describe pediatric allergen sensitization patterns in Portugal. The high rates of polysensitization and the regional variability underscore the importance of tailored diagnostic strategies. Skin prick test remains a key tool in the initial assessment of allergic diseases.

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Published

2026-03-02

How to Cite

1.
Lima Ferreira M, Nogueira Oliveira J, Pinto M, Oliveira A, Guimarães P, Azevedo A, Almeida F, Carvalho F, Falcão I, Dinis MJ, Silva C, S. Pereira R, S. Santos R, Quaresma M, Assunção A, Bordalo D, Jacob S, Gomes D, Jacinto H, Bento Guerra A, Guedes S, Silva P, Henriques D, Silva A, Santalha M, São Simão T, Eiras I, Santos Nobre M, Ramalho H, Salgueiro R, Torres L, Guerra P, Barroca R, Correia AL, Oliveira G, Lages Pereira R, Carvalho F, Reis Morais M, S. Pinto D, Araújo AR, Moreira M, Teixeira S. Skin Prick Testing in a Portuguese Pediatric Population: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study of Clinical and Allergen Sensitization Profiles. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 2 [cited 2026 Mar. 16];39(3):191-202. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/23882

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 3 (2026): March

Section

Original

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