广州地区支气管哮喘患者常见吸入变应原调查分析

目的调查广州地区支气管哮喘发病相关的主要致敏变应原.方法对102例支气管哮喘缓解期患者,其中儿童48例,成人54例,用尘螨、霉菌、猫毛等12种常见吸入变应原进行皮肤点刺试验,并测定其中27例总IgE(TIgE)的水平.结果儿童组尘螨皮试阳性率最高(均为79.2%),其次是屋尘(72.9%).成年组尘螨皮试阳性率最高,粉尘螨和屋尘螨分别为59.3%、62.9%,其次为屋尘(40.7%).在动物毛发皮屑中,以狗毛为主,猫毛次之;对于所有变应原,儿童组的阳性百分率远远高于成年组;27例血清总IgE的均值为506.1KU/L,远高于正常人,其中皮试阳性者TIgE水平高于皮试阴性者(p<0.01).结论广州地区主要变应原均为尘螨,且哮喘儿童对尘螨过敏的阳性率显著高于成人.     

广州地区支气管哮喘患者常见吸入变应原调查分析

目的　调查广州地区支气管哮喘发病相关的主要致敏变应原 .方法　对 10 2例支气管哮喘缓解期患者 ,其中儿童 4 8例 ,成人 5 4例 ,用尘螨、霉菌、猫毛等 12种常见吸入变应原进行皮肤点刺试验 ,并测定其中 2 7例总IgE(TIgE)的水平 .结果　儿童组尘螨皮试阳性率最高 (均为 79.2 % ) ,其次是屋尘 (72 .9% ) .成年组尘螨皮试阳性率最高 ,粉尘螨和屋尘螨分别为 5 9.3%、6 2 .9% ,其次为屋尘 (4 0 .7% ) .在动物毛发皮屑中 ,以狗毛为主 ,猫毛次之 ;对于所有变应原 ,儿童组的阳性百分率远远高于成年组 ;2 7例血清总IgE的均值为 5 0 6 .1KU/L ,远高于正常人 ,其中皮试阳性者TIgE水平高于皮试阴性者 (p<0 .0 1) .结论　广州地区主要变应原均为尘螨 ,且哮喘儿童对尘螨过敏的阳性率显著高于成人     

上海地区过敏患者皮肤点刺试验临床分析

为了解上海地区过敏性疾病的主要过敏原,探讨过敏患者过敏原的分布情况及变化规律,收集1 407例过敏患者的皮肤点刺试验资料。结果显示,阳性率位于前五位的过敏原依次为粉尘螨64.89%、屋尘螨58.56%、热带螨40.58%、德国小蠊21.32%和美洲大蠊20.90%。以尘螨(粉尘螨、屋尘螨和热带螨)的阳性率最高。过敏患者对尘螨(粉尘螨、屋尘螨和热带螨)、蟑螂(德国小蠊和美洲大蠊)、狗毛屑、猫毛屑及虾过敏与年龄有关。呼吸道过敏性疾病患者对尘螨、蟑螂、狗毛屑、猫毛屑和花粉过敏的阳性率均明显高于过敏性皮肤病患者(P<0.05)。提示上海地区以尘螨为主要过敏原,对尘螨、蟑螂、狗毛屑、猫毛屑及虾过敏与患者年龄有关,但与性别无关。呼吸道过敏性疾病患者较过敏性皮肤病患者有更高的阳性率。     

支气管哮喘不同年龄组致敏原分析

目的研究支气管哮喘不同年龄组的主要致敏原分布特性,为诊断和预防提供科学依据.方法采用UniCap100检测143例支气管哮喘患者的血清40种特异性IgE,按年龄分组分析致敏原阳性率.结果①婴幼儿组以鸡蛋、尘螨和牛奶为主要致敏原.②4岁以后以屋尘螨、粉尘螨、屋尘、蛔虫、飞蛾、蟑螂、蚕丝、狗毛为主要致敏原,而蛔虫在30～50岁组的阳性率甚至比尘螨高,40种变应原中各年龄组间存在着显著性差异的有13种,其中包括屋尘、屋尘螨、粉尘螨、蛔虫、飞蛾、蚕丝、狗毛、木麻黄花粉、蒿花粉、苋花粉、牛奶、鸡蛋、蟹.③随着年龄的增长,虾蟹成为主要的食物致敏原.结论支气管哮喘的致敏原因,在婴幼儿期要高度重视鸡蛋、牛奶的过敏,同时不能忽视尘螨过敏的可能性,随着年龄的增长支气管哮喘的主要致敏原是吸入性抗原,而30岁后的患者对蛔虫的高阳性率应引起人们的注意.     

三亚地区儿童体外变应原检测及结果分析

为探讨三亚地区儿童常见变应原的致敏情况及分布,为儿童过敏性疾病的防治提供科学依据,采用Mediwiss公司敏筛定量变应原检测系统及其专用体外变应原诊断试剂对1 173例患儿进行常见的吸入性与食入性变应原体外免疫检测,并计算各种过敏所占阳性比,同时比较三亚地区不同年龄段吸入组及食入组变应原阳性率的变化趋势。结果显示:①在所有吸入组变应原中,首要变应原为户尘螨(26.09%),其次为猫、狗毛皮屑(24.30%),混合树花粉(18.67%),混合真菌(13.73%),屋尘(8.18%)等;随年龄增长,混合真菌和猫、狗毛皮屑阳性率总体呈下降趋势,户尘螨、屋尘、矮豚草蒿葎草、混合树花粉、苋、蟑螂阳性率呈上升趋势;户尘螨,屋尘,猫、狗毛皮屑等阳性在A～D年龄组中的分布差异有统计学意义(P0.05),最常见的双重阳性组合为户尘螨+猫、狗毛皮屑,其次为户尘螨+屋尘。②在食入组变应原中居于前3位的分别为牛奶、腰果、鸡蛋白;随着年龄的增长,牛奶的阳性率呈下降趋势,菠萝呈上升趋势,其他变应原变化规律不明显;除腰果、菠萝外,其他变应原阳性率在A～D年龄组间的分布差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。由此可知,海南三亚地区过敏患儿变应原分布与国内外其他地区存在差异。三亚地区导致儿童过敏性疾病的前5位变应原依次为:牛奶,户尘螨,猫、狗毛皮屑,腰果,鸡蛋白,食入性变应原居于首位。     

患儿鸡蛋、牛奶过敏原体外检测分析

为了解患儿鸡蛋、牛奶过敏原分布情况,采用荧光ELISA法检测患儿血清中鸡蛋和牛奶过敏原SIgE抗体.结果表明:患儿中鸡蛋SIgE和牛奶SIgE阳性检出率分别为31.1%和21.7%.0～1岁组,1～3岁组和3～6岁组鸡蛋SIgE的阳性率显著高于6～14岁组(P＜0.05 ); 0～1岁组和1～3岁组牛奶SIgE的阳性率显著高于3～6岁组和6～14岁组(P＜0.05), 鸡蛋SIgE和牛奶SIgE阳性率都有随着年龄增长而逐渐降低的趋势;鸡蛋SIgE阳性同时牛奶SIgE阳性患儿的阳性率为40.9%,牛奶SIgE阳性同时鸡蛋SIgE阳性患儿的阳性率为44.3%.支气管肺炎患儿鸡蛋和牛奶SIgE阳性率最高,分别为30.3%和29.5%.建议在变态反应性疾病患儿和支气管肺炎患儿中检测鸡蛋SIgE和牛奶SIgE.     

支气管哮喘不同年龄组致敏原分析

目的研究支气管哮喘不同年龄组的主要致敏原分布特性，为诊断和预防提供科学依据．方法采用Unicap100检测143例支气管哮喘患者的血清40种特异性IgE，按年龄分组分析致敏原阳性率．结果①婴幼儿组以鸡蛋、尘螨和牛奶为主要致敏原．②4岁以后以屋尘螨、粉尘螨、屋尘、蛔虫、飞蛾、蟑螂、蚕丝、狗毛为主要致敏原，而蛔虫在30～50岁组的阳性率甚至比尘螨高，40种变应原中各年龄组间存在着显著性差异的有13种，其中包括屋尘、屋尘螨、粉尘螨、蛔虫、飞蛾、蚕丝、狗毛、木麻黄花粉、蒿花粉、苋花粉、牛奶、鸡蛋、蟹．③随着年龄的增长，虾蟹成为主要的食物致敏原．结论支气管哮喘的致敏原因，在婴幼儿期要高度重视鸡蛋、牛奶的过敏，同时不能忽视尘螨过敏的可能性，随着年龄的增长支气管哮喘的主要致敏原是吸入性抗原，而30岁后的患者对蛔虫的高阳性率应引起人们的注意．     

婴幼儿和儿童哮喘过敏原IgE 检测及临床意义

目的:研究婴幼儿和儿童血清特异性Ig E过敏原检测在哮喘中的临床意义。方法:选取2011年11月至2016年12月就诊的505例单纯哮喘婴幼儿和儿童(n=385)及非过敏患儿(n=120),采用德国FOOKE全自动酶免疫分析系统对过敏原特异性Ig E抗体进行检测,分别建立不同性别、年龄的单纯性哮喘组与非过敏对照组,对过敏原与哮喘进行多因素Logistic回归分析。结果:505例婴幼儿和儿童血清Ig E过敏原检测阳性者240例(47. 5%)。婴幼儿和儿童哮喘过敏原分布单因素分析结果显示,户尘螨、霉菌类、屋尘、牛奶、猫/狗毛皮屑、混合草等与哮喘发生有相关性(P0. 05)。而多因素分析结果显示,户尘螨、霉菌类、屋尘螨是发病的危险因素(P0. 05);不同年龄组婴幼儿和儿童单因素分析结果显示,在3岁婴幼儿仅屋尘螨与哮喘发生有相关性(P0. 05),在3～14岁患儿中户尘螨、屋尘螨与哮喘发生有相关性(P0. 05),在7～14岁患儿中霉菌与哮喘发生有相关性(P0. 05);户尘螨、屋尘螨是男、女性婴幼儿和儿童哮喘发生的危险因素(P0. 05),而霉菌、腰果/花生是男性婴幼儿和儿童哮喘发生的危险因素(P0. 05)。结论:婴幼儿和儿童哮喘以户尘螨、屋尘螨、霉菌类过敏原为主,血清过敏原检测对早期评估婴幼儿和儿童哮喘的发生、发展有重要意义。     

广州地区不同年龄组支气管哮喘儿童变应原体外检测结果分析

目的观察广州地区不同年龄组支气管哮喘（哮喘）儿童总IgE（TIgE）水平和15种变应原特异性IgE（slgE）的阳性分布情况。方法入选859例小儿呼吸门诊的0～14岁哮喘儿童，采用德国FookeAllergy-O-LIQ变应原检测系统，通过酶联免疫捕获法检测TI姬和变应原sIgE，比较0～2岁、3～5岁、6～10岁和11～14岁组哮喘儿童的TIgE水平和15种变应原slgE的阳性分布差异。结果TIgE在6～10岁组[148．2（260．8）IU／ml]和11～14岁组[156．5（329．4）IU／ml]分别明显高于0～2岁组[38．7（82．2）IU／ml]和3～5岁组[64．2（138．2）IU／ml]（均为P〈0．01）。吸入变应原sIgE阳性率前4位是屋尘（51．9％）、屋尘螨（49．7％）、粉尘螨（47．7％）和热带螨（9．3％），其阳性率均随年龄的增加而t增高，4个年龄组比较差异具有统计学意义（r分别为61．987、125．439、152．507和87．997，均P〈0．01）。食物变应原sIgE阳性率前4位是牛奶（37．7％）、全蛋（23．1％）、花生（6．3％）和小麦粉（5．6％），4个年龄组比较差异具有统计学意义（r分别为50．766、22．913、8．275和7．808，均P〈0．05），牛奶和全蛋的阳性率因年龄的增加而降低，而花生和小麦的阳性率分别在6～10岁组和3～5岁组达高峰后下降。结论广州地区哮喘儿童TIgE水平和主要的吸入变应原屋尘、屋尘螨、粉尘螨及热带螨sIgE阳性率总的变化趋势随年龄的增加而增高，而主要的食物变应原牛奶和鸡蛋的sIgE阳性率则随年龄的增加而下降。     

儿童哮喘变应原检测的临床意义

目的探讨变应原检测在儿童哮喘诊断及治疗的临床意义.方法采用变应原皮试液做皮肤点刺试验,部位选择前臂屈侧.变应原皮试液包括吸入性和食入性变应原.结果223例儿童哮喘变应原皮肤点刺试验阳性146例,阳性率65.5%.其中,吸入性变应原阳性125例,阳性率56.1%.食入性变应原阳性61例,阳性率27.4%.结论儿童哮喘以吸入性变应原过敏为主,其中以户尘螨、豚草花粉为最多,其次是粉尘螨.学龄期及学龄前期儿童变应原阳性率明显高于婴幼儿,且阳性率随着年龄增长而增高.变应原皮肤点刺试验可列为常规检查,作为儿童哮喘诊断及治疗的参考.     

Pattern of sensitization to common environmental allergens amongst atopic Singapore children in the first 3 years of life

This study was aimed to investigate the sensitization pattern to a range of common allergens in young Singaporean children. A cross-sectional study involving 75 children aged below 3 years was carried out. They presented between December 1995 and April 2000 with symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, eczema, or food allergy. Their levels of allergen-specific serum IgE to a panel of foods (egg white, milk, soy protein, shrimp, wheat and peanut), pet dander, dust mites and cockroaches were measured with Pharmacia CAP System radioallergosorbent test kits. Serum IgE levels greater than 0.35 kU/l represented a positive result. Four children could not be tested with the complete panel because of insufficient serum. The prevalence of sensitization was highest for cow's milk (45.9%) followed by egg white (38.7%), dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (31.4%) and Blomia tropicalis (25.5%). Sensitization to ingested allergens was significantly more prevalent in children aged 1 year or younger than in the older children (70.4% of those below 1 year, and 50% of those aged 1-3 years; p < 0.02). Sensitization to inhaled allergens, such as dust mites, was more likely to manifest as respiratory symptoms (allergic rhinitis and asthma), while ingested allergens were associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and eczema (p < 0.001). It was concluded that infants and young children are at high risk of sensitization to common environmental substances. Allergen avoidance is therefore important even in the very young. The prevalence of sensitization to food allergens is higher compared to inhalant allergens in young children.     

Comparative detection of mite allergens in house dust of homes in Moscow by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and acarologic analysis

The present study revealed that 73% of surveyed apartments in Moscow whose residents included children with the atopic form of bronchial asthma and sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens were infested with the pyroglyphid mites D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae. The number of mites in the surveyed apartments varied between 0 and 154 mites/g of dust for D. pteronyssinus and between 0 and 162 mites/g of dust for D. farinae. The levels of mite allergens in these apartments ranged from 0.5 to 165.8 μg/g for Der p I and from 0.3 to 91.3 μg/g of dust for Der f I. The Der p I allergen was found to predominate, and its concentration in one-third of the apartments was more than 10-fold greater than that of Der f I. Correlation between the number of pyroglyphid mites and the concentration of group I allergens was established for both D. pteronyssinus ( r = 0.4932; P < 0.01) and D. farinae (r = 0.6748; P <0.01). In most of the apartments, high and moderate levels of Der I allergens were detected.     

江苏省徐州地区支气管哮喘儿童血清过敏原检测结果分析及临床意义

目的:观察支气管哮喘儿童的过敏原检测结果,探讨过敏原特异性血清特异性免疫球蛋白E(special immunoglobulin E,SIgE)、血清嗜酸粒细胞阳离子蛋白(eosinophil cationic protein,ECP)、总免疫球蛋白E(total immunoglobulin E,TIgE)在支气管哮喘...     

Citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) is a common sensitizing allergen among children living around citrus orchards.

BACKGROUND: A recent investigation has suggested that Panonychus citri (citrus red mite) is the most common causative allergen in citrus-cultivating farmers with asthma or allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional survey was performed to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and sensitization to P. citri among children living around citrus orchards. METHODS: A total of 1,055 children living around citrus orchards were enrolled. There were 544 boys and 511 girls with a mean age of 12.3 (range 7 to 16) years. They were evaluated by the ISAAC questionnaire, and a skin prick test with 13 common aeroallergens including P. citri and Japanese cedar pollen. Children who recorded ever having experienced wheezing on the questionnaire were evaluated by methacholine bronchial provocation test and determined to have asthma if they showed bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine simultaneously. RESULTS: The positive skin test response to one or more inhalant allergens except P. citri was 35.5%, but when including P. citri, the positive response increased to 37.7%. The most common sensitizing allergens in the order of decreasing frequency were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (26.6%), D. farinae (22.7%), P. citri (14.2%), cockroach (11.3%), and Japanese cedar pollen (9.7%). Among the children without sensitization to house dust mites, the sensitization rate to P. citri was significantly higher in those 13 and over than in those under 12 (5.8% versus 2.5%, P < .05). The prevalence of asthma was not different between the children with sensitization to P. citri and those without it (5.4% versus 4.0%, P > .05), although the prevalence was higher in those with sensitization to D. pteronyssinus or D. farinae than in those without sensitization to these allergens (7.9% versus 2.9%, P < .05; 9.7% versus 2.6%, P < .05). CONCLUSION: Citrus red mite is a common sensitizing allergen among children living around citrus orchards. The features of sensitization and development of asthma are different between citrus red mite and house dust mites.     

Sensitization to house dust mites in Reykjavik, Iceland, in the absence of domestic exposure to mites

BACKGROUND: House dust mites are common sources of indoor allergens. In Reykjavik, Iceland, 9% of the young adult population had serum-specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Sensitization to mites is usually assumed to be due to exposure to house dust mites in the indoor environment. This investigation was carried out to measure the concentrations of house dust mite allergens and to investigate which species of mites were present in beds in Iceland. METHODS: A total of 197 randomly selected adults were visited at home using the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II Indoor protocol. Dust samples were collected from mattresses for measurement of house dust mite allergen concentrations and to estimate the number and type of house dust mites. Additional samples from mattresses and floors were collected from the homes of 10 patients with positive skin prick tests (SPT) to D. pteronyssinus. House dust mite allergen concentrations were measured using ELISA and examination of mite species was carried out using microscopy. Climatic parameters were assessed using psychrometer readings in the bedrooms and outdoors. RESULTS: We found two single mite specimens, both D. pteronyssinus, in two dust samples. Mite allergen analyses indicated that two other dust samples had Der f 1 results close to the cut-off of 0.1 microg/g of dust. No samples were positive for Der p 1. In an additional collection of dust from the homes of 10 SPT-positive patients no Dermatophagoides spp. were found. CONCLUSIONS: Reykjavik citizens are exposed to extremely low amounts of house dust mite allergens in their homes. Possible alternative sources for sensitization are discussed, such as bird nests, exposure from travelling abroad, or other mites or invertebrates that cross-react with house dust mite allergens. Our findings suggest that exposures other than to house dust mites indoors are possible sources of mite allergen exposure.     

Sensitization profiles of Malaysian and Singaporean subjects to allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Blomia tropicalis

BACKGROUND: The house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Blomia tropicalis (Blo t) are the most common house dust mite species in Southeast Asia. To date, there have only been a few studies on the sensitization profile of the general populations in Southeast Asia to house dust mites. The aim of this study was to determine the profiles of Der p and Blo t sensitization among Singaporean and Malaysian subjects. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect specific IgE to Der p and Blo t mite crude extracts as well as purified Der p 1, Der p 2 and Blo t 5 allergens. Sera used were from 229 Singaporean subjects (124 with rhinitis, 105 without rhinitis) and 143 Malaysian subjects (94 adults and 49 children with asthma). RESULTS: The sensitization profile of rhinitis subjects to the dust mite allergens used in this study was as follows: Blo t extract positive: 91/124 (73%); Blo t 5 positive: 62/124 (50%); Der p extract positive: 61/124 (49%); Der p 1 positive: 53/124 (43%); Der p 2 positive: 45/124 (36%). The nonrhinitis subjects' sensitization profile was as follows: Blo t extract positive: 60/105 (57%); Blo t 5 positive: 24/105 (23%); Der p extract positive: 38/105 (36%); Der p 1 positive: 14/105 (13%); Der p 2 positive: 17/105 (16%). The study of Malaysian asthmatic adults showed that 39% of them were sensitized to Der p 1, 32% to Der p 2 and 37% to Blo t 5. Among the asthmatic children, sensitization to Blo t 5, Der p 1 and Der p 2 was 90, 57 and 39%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study clearly revealed that dual sensitization to B. tropicalis and D. pteronyssinus is common in the general populations of Singapore and Malaysia. Sensitization to Blo t 5 is more prevalent than to Der p 1 and Der p 2.     

House dust mite and cockroach exposure are strong risk factors for positive allergy skin test responses in the Childhood Asthma Management Program

BACKGROUND: Children with asthma have a high prevalence of environmental allergies, especially to indoor allergens. The relationships of exposure to indoor allergens (dust mites, cat, dog, cockroach, and molds) and other host factors to allergy sensitization have not been evaluated simultaneously in a large cohort. OBJECTIVES: We studied 1041 children aged 5 to 12 years with mild-to-moderate asthma to determine risk factors associated with having positive allergy skin test responses to indoor allergens. Also, we described, compared, and contrasted 6 allergens in the home environments of these children from 8 North American cities. METHODS: Data were used from baseline visits of the Childhood Asthma Management Program. Patients' sensitivities to house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), cats, dogs, cockroaches, and molds were examined for relationships to demographic variables, home dust allergen exposures, number of other positive allergy skin test responses, total serum IgE levels, and smoking in the home. RESULTS: San Diego (78.5%) and Toronto (59.3%) had the topmost percentages of homes with moderate-to-high house dust mite levels. Boston (21.5%), St Louis (16.3%), and Baltimore (13.4%) had the highest percentages of homes with detectable levels of cockroach allergen. For house dust mites, the higher the level of allergen exposure, the more likely patients were to have positive allergy skin test responses, with relative odds of 9.0 (95% confidence interval, 5.4-15.1) for those exposed to high mite levels (>10.0 microg/g dust) relative to those unexposed. Even exposure to low levels of mite allergen (0.020-2.0 microg/g) was found to be a significant risk factor for sensitization. For cockroach allergen, those with detectable home exposure were more likely to have positive skin test responses (relative odds, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.8) than those with undetectable exposure. In contrast, levels of exposure to cat, dog, and mold allergens were not related to sensitization rates. For cat allergen, this may reflect lower rates of cat ownership among highly sensitized subjects. Furthermore, the number of allergy skin test responses that were positive, excluding the test for the outcome of interest for each model, and total serum IgE levels were strong independent predictors of sensitization. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of exposure determined by house dust analysis are important determinants of sensitization for dust mite and cockroach allergen. This relationship was not demonstrable for cat, dog, or mold allergens, possibly because of confounding factors. For all allergens studied, the degree of atopy, determined by the total number of positive skin test responses or by total serum IgE levels, is an important contributing risk factor for sensitization.     

Prevalence of specific IgE to storage mites (A. siro, L. destructor and T. longior) in an urban population and crossreactivity with the house dust mite (D. pteronyssinus)

The role of pyroglyphid mites in house dust allergy is well established and the major allergens from the common house dust mites (Dermatophagoides species) have been characterized. There is, however, relatively little progress in the understanding of the human IgE response to non-pyroglyphid storage mites, allergenic crossreactivity with other mite species and extent of environmental exposure. We studied 196 individuals from an urban environment who were not occupationally exposed to storage mites and found a 24% prevalence of specific IgE antibody to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and a 14% prevalence of RAST positivity to at least one of three storage mites, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus longior. All individuals with a positive RAST to storage mites had specific IgE to D. pteronyssinus. RAST inhibition studies with the eight sera with greater than 2% RAST binding to both families of mites showed considerable crossreactivity between D. pteronyssinus and the storage mites A. siro and T. longior and limited crossreactivity between D. pteronyssinus and L. destructor. This suggests that at least some of the response to storage mites observed by direct RAST is a consequence of crossreactivity with the more abundant D. pteronyssinus.     

Skin sensitization to common allergens in Turkish wheezy children less than 3 years of age

Infants and small children with asthma are not commonly skin tested, as allergy is not considered to be a major cause of infantile asthma. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of skin test positivity to various allergens in wheezy children less than 3 years of age. We evaluated 161 patients with infantile asthma (median age 20 months) and 100 healthy controls (median age 18 months). Infantile asthma was defined as three or more episodes of wheezing in a child less than 3 years of age, whose symptoms improved on treatment with beta-agonist and anti-inflammatory agents. All children were skin tested to house dust mites (HDM), pollens, molds, and cow milk extracts using prick technique. One hundred and eighteen (73.3%) children In the patient group tested positive to HDM, 84 (52.1%) to pollens, 37 (22.9%) to molds, and 16 (10%) to cow milk. Sensitization rates to HDM were significantly higher in the patient group than In the healthy controls. Sensitization rates to pollens were not statistically different between the two groups. There was no association between family history of atopy and frequency of sensitization to allergens in the wheezy and control groups. We concluded that skin sensitization to allergens was common In wheezy infants. The prevalence of sensitization to indoor allergens was higher than to outdoor or food allergens.