BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of Aspergillus sensitivity (AS) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in children with Bronchial Asthma.

METHODS: The study included 200 children with bronchial asthma. ABPA was diagnosed using Aspergillus skin testing, pulmonary function testing, absolute eosinophil count, total serum IgE, Aspergillus-specific IgE and IgG, chest radiography, and high-resolution computed tomography. Patients were diagnosed and classified according to the Rosenberg–Patterson criteria for ABPA.

RESULTS: Of the 200 children with bronchial asthma, 7 patients were ABPA positive. Among the ABPA-positive cases, 5 (71.4%) had uncontrolled asthma. The mean absolute eosinophil count (AEC) was significantly higher in ABPA-positive cases (418.71 ± 90.12 cells/cumm). The mean total serum IgE in positive cases was 1181.00 ± 403.42 IU/L. The mean Aspergillus-specific IgE level in positive cases was 4.74 ± 6.09 kUA/L. In ABPA-positive cases, the mean Aspergillus-specific IgG level was 26.06 ± 14.93 mgA/L.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated an association between ABPA and bronchial asthma in children. ABPA is a common entity in bronchial asthma and should be considered as a cause of uncontrolled asthma when symptoms persist despite the use of multiple medications.

KEYWORDS: Asthma, Allergy, Airway inflammation, Aspergillosis