House dust mites and bronchial asthma in Libyan children

ABSTRACT

A total of 300 asthmatic patients [children from 6 months to 13 years], who were attending paediatrics respiratory clinic at Ibn Sina Teaching Hospital and Out-Patient Clinic in Central Polyclinic, Sirt-Libya, were tested for their responses to skin prick test using purified house dust mites [HDM] allergens. Out of the 300 patients suffering from bronchial asthma, 204 [68%] showed variable allergic response to various HDM purified allergens.57% of the positive cases showed positive response to Dermatophagoide pteronyssinus [Der pter] antigens, and 28% of cases to Dermatophagoide farinae [Der far] antigens and 14% showed positive response to Lepidoglyphus destructor [L.d] antigens. Of the 204 patients with positive reaction, 64.2% gave severe reaction while 21% gave moderate and 14.8% gave mild reactions. These reactions were more severe in males than females