A Study of Skin Sensitivity for Common Allergens in Patients of Nasobronchial Allergy in North India

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study is designed to investigate the profile of different allergen sensitivities by skin prick test in patients with nasobronchial allergy (NBA). Materials and methods: A total of 130 patients of NBA were included in the study. Each NBA patient was subjected to the skin prick test with 44 allergens. Results: Out of 130 patients, 98 patients (75.4%) had both bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, 11 patients (8.5%) had allergic rhinitis, and 21 patients (16.2%) had bronchial asthma alone. The age of patients ranged from 12 to 60 years, with mean age 26.4 � 10.24 years. The most common allergen came out to be insects (26.2%) followed by dust mites (20.7%), dusts (7.4%), pollens (5.9%), fungi (5.2%), danders (3.8%), and silk (2.2%). Common insect antigens were moth and mosquito (28.9%) followed by the cockroach, housefly (24.4%), and honeybee (18.9%). Common dust allergens were grain dust and house dust. Among pollens, Amaranthus spinosus and Cassia siamea (13.3%) followed by Brassica campestris (12.2%) and Holoptelea integrifolia (10%) were common. Among fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger were common allergens. Conclusion: Common allergens in patients of NBA were identified. Allergen-specific immunotherapy can be a viable option for these patients.