Prevalence of aeroallergens in patients of bronchial asthma and/or allergic rhinitis in India based on skin prick test reactivity

Raj Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Indu Bisht, Kamal Singh

Indian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2017 31(2):45-55

Background: Exposures to various aeroallergens play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR). On the basis of climate change, the prevalence of aeroallergens may vary in different regions. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of the sensitivity to aeroallergens among patients with BA and/or AR based on skin prick test (SPT) reactivity in India. Settings And Design: This study was conducted at National Centre of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and Department of Respiratory Allergy and Applied Immunology, (Department of Respiratory Medicine), Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 (India). Subjects And Methods: A total of 4835 patients were screened from the Outpatient Department of institute during the period of August 2008 to July 2016. Out of 4835 patients, 4263 patients were performed SPT consisting of 2361 (55.38%) males and 1902 (44.62%) females, with a mean age of 30.06 years were included in the study. Diagnosis of BA and AR was made according to the GINA and ARIA guidelines, respectively. SPT was done with 58 different types of aeroallergens, which included grass pollens, weed pollens, tree pollens, dust, fungi, insects, kapok cotton, wool, and silk antigens. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was done using Excel 2007. Results: Significant skin positive reaction (2 + and above) against aeroallergens were found in 1993 (46.77%) participants including 422 (9.9%) BA patients, 570 (13.37%) AR patients, and 1001 (23.48%) of both BA/AR. The younger adults aged 20–29 years were the foremost commonly affected group with 626 (14.68%) significant skin-positive patients. Among individual allergens, most common aeroallergen was mosquito (30.89%) and least common was Ehretia (0.37%). Conclusions: In different states of India, the mosquito was found the most common sensitizing allergen in BA and/or AR patients. Sensitization was the most common in the younger age group (20–29 years) patients.

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