Distinct effect of sensitization of house dust mite and citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) in the development of allergic diseases in 16-18 year old adolescents living in rural areas of Jeju island / 천식및알레르기

BACKGROUND: A recent investigation has demonstrated that citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) is the most important allergen in citrus-cultivating farmers with asthma or rhinitis. METHODS: A total of 2,005 adolescents (aged 16 to 18 years) living in rural areas were enrolled in this study. Each subject was evaluated by a questionnaire developed by the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood(ISSAC), and a skin prick test with 11 common inhalant allergens including citrus red mite. RESULTS: Prevalence of recent wheezing, recent rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms and eczema was 13.0%, 13.6% and 9.9%, respectively. On skin prick test, the most common sensitizing allergen was citrus red mite (20.6%), followed by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (18.5%), Dermato-phagoides farinae (14.6%) and cockroach (9.8). The prevalence of eczema was higher in those with sensitization to CRM than in those without sensitization to any allergens(p 0.05). On the contrary, the sensitization to house dust mites were significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: Citrus red mite was the most common sensitizing allergen in 16-18 year-old adolescents living in rural areas with citrus farms and sensitization to CRM was significantly associated with the prevalence of atopic dermatitis.

Risk factors for the sensitization to citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) in adolescents living in rural areas of Cheju island / 천식및알레르기

INTRODUCTION: Recent investigations have demonstrated that citrus red mite is a common sensitizing allergen in children and adults living in rural areas of Cheju island. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the sensitization rate to the citrus red mite and to determine the risk factors for this sensitization in adolescents living in rural areas of Cheju island. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 3,395 adolescents (from ages 13 to 15 years old) living in rural areas of Cheju island were enrolled in this study. Each subject was evaluated by a modified ISAAC questionnaire, and a skin prick test with 11 common inhalant allergens including citrus red mite. RESULTS: On skin prick test the most common sensitizing allergen was D. pteronyssinus (27.9%), followed by D. farinae (23.9%), citrus red mite (18.3%), and cockroach (16.7%). Sensitization rate to citrus red mite was higher in those living near citrus orchards than in those living far from the orchards, and higher in those visiting citrus orchards more frequently than in those visiting less frequently. CONCLUSION: Citrus red mite is a common sensitizing allergen in adolescents living in rural areas of Cheju island. The sensitization rate to citrus red mite may be partially determined by environ- mental exposure.