Study of skin prick test in children with allergic diseases.

Abstract

In managing the allergic patients, one of the principles is to identify, avoid and control the triggers. Allergen is the most common trigger and cause of the diseases. In this study,15 common allergens were used to perform skin prick test in 52 allergic children aged 1 - 20 years (mean 9.7 years) from March 2001 to November. 32 were males and 20 were females.67.3 percent of the patients had allergic rhinitis, 9.6 percent had asthma and 23.1 percent had both diseases. 73.07 percent of the patients had atopic family history. At least one skin prick test was positive in 46 patients (88.5 percent). The prevalence of sensitization to various allergens were as follows mites (D.pteronyssinus, D.farinae) 73.1 percent, American cockroach 65.4 percent, shrimp 25 percent, cat dander 21.2 percent, Bermuda grass 21.2 percent, kapok 19.2 percent, Careless weed 17.3 percent, shellfish 15.4 percent, Acasia 13.5 percent, Johnson grass 11.5 percent, Penicillium 9.6 percent, Cladosporium 9.6 percent, Aspergillus 7.7 percent and dog dander 1.9 percent. This findings highlight the association of specific aeroallergens with upper and lower respiratory allergy. These findings comparing with other previous studies in Thailand revealed that mites were the most common allergen in Thailand. So therapeutic efforts should be focused on the avoidance of mite allergen in allergic patients and predisposed atopic individuals.