prevalence and severity of covid-19 among pediatric patients with atopy: a cross-sectional study in kerman, southeast iran

The tragic covid-19 pandemic affected many children worldwide. among the factors that may influence the course of viral infections including covid-19, it is still uncertain whether atopy has a protective or predisposing role. the study aims to address the knowledge gap by investigating the prevalence and severity of covid-19 among atopic children in kerman, in 2022.a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study on children with a history of atopy was performed in kerman medical university. demographic information, type of atopy (including allergic rhinitis, hyper-reactive airway disease (hrad) or asthma, eczema, urticaria, anaphylaxis, and food allergy), history of covid-19 infection, and disease severity were recorded.a total of 1007 children and adolescents, (boys: 56.4%, girls: 43.6%, age:5.61±2.64 years) were included in the study. history of covid-19 infection was positive in 53.5%, with 75.9% of the cases exhibiting mild disease severity. the frequency of atopies was hrad or asthma (67.2%), allergic rhinitis (42.6%), and food allergy (27.4%). the frequency of covid-19 cases was significantly higher among patients with hrad or asthma, whereas it was significantly lower among those with food allergies, anaphylaxis, and eczema. among atopic individuals, covid-19 severity was significantly lower in those with allergic rhinitis, while the opposite trend was observed among food-allergic individuals.this study sheds light on the relationship between atopy and covid-19 among pediatric patients. it seems specific types of atopies may influence the risk and severity of covid-19 infection differently. a better understanding of these associations can inform clinical management and preventive measures for vulnerable pediatric populations.