Skin prick test results of child patients diagnosed as bronchial asthma

ABSTRACT

Background:The pathogenesis of asthma is associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Allergen sensitization is an important risk factor in asthma development. Aim: To evaluate sensitivity to allergens by using the skin prick test in patients with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma. Method: Patients with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma followed-up at the Ministry of Health, Diskapi Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital in Ankara (Turkey) between January 1995 and March 2000 were included. Sensitivity to allergens, as determined by the skin prick test, was evaluated retrospectively. Results: The files of a total of 3025 children (63.3 % boys) with bronchial asthma, aged 3 months to 16 years were evaluated. Of the total, 1667 patients with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma and 1358 with bronchial asthma plus allergic rhinitis were under follow-up. Of the 3025 asthmatic patients, 1902 had undergone the skin prick test and 60.3 % of these patients were atopic. The most common allergens were house dust mite [726 patients (63.3 %)], followed by pollens [565 patients (49.3 %)]. The most common allergen within this group was grass pollens [348 patients (30.3 %)]. Conclusions: Atopy was an important risk factor in our patients and the most common allergens were aeroallegens. The development of sensitization could be delayed by early precautions

RESUMEN

Antecedentes: En la patogenia del asma se asocian factores genéticos y ambientales. La sensibilización a alergenos es un factor de riesgo importante para el desarrollo del asma. Objetivo: valorar la sensibilidad a los alergenos mediante pruebas cutáneas (prick-test) en pacientes diagnosticados de asma bronquial. Método: valoración retrospectiva de la sensibilidad a alergenos comprobada por prick-test en pacientes diagnosticados de asma bronquial, atendidos en el Ministry of Health, Diskapi Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital en Ankara entre enero 1995 y marzo 2000. Resultados: del fichero, un total de 3.025 (63,3%) niños de entre 3 meses y 16 años estaban diagnosticados de asma bronquial, se evaluaron retrospectivamente. Del total, 1.667 estaban diagnosticados de asma bronquial y 1.358 de asma+rinitis alérgica. En 1.902 de los 3.025, se efectuó el prick-test, demostrándose la atopia en el 60,3%. Los alergenos más comunes fueron los ácaros del polvo (726 pacientes: 63,3%), Los pólenes están en segundo lugar, con 565 pacientes (49,3%), destacando en ellos las gramíneas (348 pacientes: 30,3%). Conclusiones: la atopia fue un factor de riesgo importante en nuestros pacientes, con aeroalergenos, los más comunes de los alergenos. Las precauciones tomadas precozmente pueden retrasar la sensibilización