Abstract | BACKGROUND: The importance of fungal allergens in the development of allergic diseases in a desert environment is uncertain. This study evaluated the prevalence of IgE sensitization to moulds among patients with allergic respiratory diseases in Kuwait - a desert country. METHODS: A total of 810 patients (male:female ratio 1.4) with a mean age of 32.3 years (range 2-76 years) with extrinsic asthma or allergic rhinitis were studied. Sera from the patients were tested by the CAP-RAST method for specific IgE to 6 fungi (Penicillium, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Candida, Alternaria and Helminthosporium). For comparison house dust mite and Bermuda grass were also assessed. RESULTS: The overall positivity to at least one mould was 20.9%. Among 120 matched control subjects, the value was 5. 8%. The value was much higher among patients with asthma alone (45. 8%) or both asthma and rhinitis (28.3%) than those with rhinitis alone (11.8%; p < 0.001). Asthmatic children had the highest sensitization rate (66.0% in the 7- to 12-year age group), which declined sharply with age. Among asthmatics, Candida and Aspergillus had the highest sensitization rates (23.1 and 21.3%, respectively), followed by Helminthosporium (18.8%), Cladosporium (15.9%), Alternaria (14.6%) and Penicillium (13.9%). The values for mite and Bermuda grass were 41.2 and 54.6%, respectively. Among asthmatic children, severe asthma was significantly more frequent among mould-positive (51.6%) than mould-negative patients (17.5%; p < 0. 0001). CONCLUSIONS: Even in this desert environment, sensitization to moulds is quite common among patients with allergic respiratory diseases, with a striking preponderance among children with asthma. Mould allergy could also be an important factor determining asthma severity in this environment.
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Authors | C I Ezeamuzie, S Al-Ali, M Khan, Z Hijazi, A Dowaisan, M S Thomson, J Georgi |
Journal | International archives of allergy and immunology
(Int Arch Allergy Immunol)
Vol. 121
Issue 4
Pg. 300-7
(Apr 2000)
ISSN: 1018-2438 [Print] Switzerland |
PMID | 10828720
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel |
Chemical References |
- Allergens
- Immunoglobulin E
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Allergens
(immunology)
- Asthma
(complications, immunology)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Desert Climate
- Female
- Humans
- Hypersensitivity, Immediate
(epidemiology, immunology)
- Immunoglobulin E
(blood)
- Kuwait
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mitosporic Fungi
(immunology)
- Radioallergosorbent Test
- Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
(complications, immunology)
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