FEATURES OF IMMUNO-BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF TEARS IN ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

In the study of the immune system status in children with allergic conjunctivitis, tears play a significant role alongside blood serum. Therefore, the methods presented for determining immuno-biochemical indicators of tears have been modified. A total of 90 children aged 3 to 18 years were involved in the study. Test strips from “Qihgdao Hightop Biotech Co.Ltd” (Qingdao, PRC) were used, allowing the determination of 9 indicators in tears. Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is one of the most common forms of allergic diseases in children, characterized by inflammatory damage to the conjunctiva resulting from a rapid hypersensitivity reaction to allergens. The disease often accompanies conditions such as allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, and bronchial asthma, reflecting the systemic nature of the atopic process. According to WHO data, the frequency of allergic conjunctivitis in children varies from 10% to 30% and shows an increasing trend due to environmental degradation and changes in the immune status of the younger generation. The aim of the study was to determine the immuno-biochemical parameters of tears in children with allergic conjunctivitis. The results showed a significant increase in protein and nitrites in the tears of sick children compared to healthy children (1.62 and 1.63 times, respectively). The amount of formed elements of blood increased by 1.33 times, and the number of leukocytes increased by 1.82 times (P<0.001). In acute and chronic allergic conjunctivitis, the formed elements of blood were higher than in healthy children (1.33 and 1.89 times), and leukocytes were 1.82 and 5.21 times higher than in the control group. The protein parameter also increased significantly by 2.77 and 1.62 times compared to healthy children (P<0.001). In conclusion, it is recommended to determine the concentrations of formed elements of blood, leukocytes, protein, ketone, and glucose in tears using test strips as biological markers for the severity of pathological conditions, disease outcome, and the transition of the allergic process from acute to chronic.