Indoor Allergen Levels and Household Distributions in Nine Cities Across China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Chinese allergic subjects have high levels of sensitization to house dust mite (HDM) and other indoor allergens. This study quantifies common indoor allergen levels in Chinese households.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Dust samples were collected from nine cities. Major allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and specific antigens of Blomia tropicalis, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Acarus siro, and cockroach species Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana were measured by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HDM allergens were found in dust samples from bedding in 95% of the Chinese households. The median levels varied from <0.006 to 9.2 µg/g of dust, depending on the city. The percentages of households having HDM allergen levels associated with the risk of developing allergy sensitization and asthma were 65% and 25%, respectively. Specific antigens of the storage mite and cockroach were only found in samples from the southern and tropical regions of China. Levels of mite allergens were generally higher in samples from bedding compared to samples from the living room, even for storage mites, whereas levels of cockroach antigens were higher in the living room samples.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HDM allergens are present in bedding dust samples from most Chinese households. Cities in southern and central China have relatively high levels of HDM major allergens compared to cities in northern and western China. Antigens of storage mites and cockroaches are not as common as HDM allergens.</p>

Prevalence Rate of Sensitization to Cat Allergen in Children with Nasal Symptoms in Kunpo city / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence rate of sensitization to indoor allergens, especially cat allergen in children with nasal symptoms in Kunpo city. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of our radioallergosorbent test (RAST) database. We included 926 children with nasal symptoms between 3 months and 14 years of age. They underwent RAST which included 5 indoor and 4 food allergens. They were grouped according to age (0 to 3 years, 3 to 6 years, 6 to 9 years, 9 to 15 years). We calculated the prevalence rate of that sensitization according to age groups. RESULTS: Among the patients, 50.4% had the sensitization to at least > or =1 allergen of the RAST. The prevalence rate of sensitization increased according to the age group (P<0.05). The most common indoor allergen was Dermatophagoides farinae (D.f.) (22.6%), followed by cat (22.5%) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.) (17.4%). Especially in the 0 to 3 age group, cat allergen (22.1%), was the predominant allergen, followed by dog (18.1%) and D.f. (8.7%). Among 926 patients, the rate of cat ownership was only 0.43%. The most common food allergen was pork (15.7%), followed by milk (4.9%) and egg white (3.2%). Pearsons test revealed significant correlation between cat and pork (r=0.563, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: This study shows a high rate of sensitization to cat allergen especially the 0 to 3 age group. It might be caused by exposure to wild cat in the community. We need to design a policy to reduce airborne cat allergen in the community.