Skin prick test in children residing in a rural community in bandung, west java, Indonesia

Background  Skin prick test (SPT) is a fast, safe, and efficient method to diagnose IgE-mediated allergy that provides optimal information as long as it performed and interpreted correctly. It is important that the allergens tested for should be adjusted to the patient’s clinical condition and residential. The aim of this study is to report the result of SPT in children residing in a rural community in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

Methods  This study was a part of a nested case control study entitled, “RSV and recurrent wheezing in Indonesia: 7-9 years follow-up study with lung function studies.” This study was conducted in Department of Child Health, Hasan Sadikin Hospital from December 2009 to July 2010. Demographic data and history taking on the basis of standardized questionnaires were collected from all participants. The skin prick test was performed with 12 common allergens.

Results There were 218 subjects, 111 (50.9%) boys and 107 (49.1%) girls, age 8.4 to 13.4 years old, mean of age 10.4 ± 1.05 years old, enrolled in the study. Positive SPT were found in 175 subjects (80.3%), negative SPT in 31 subjects (13.8%) and severe dermatographism in 13 subjects (6%). The positive rates of inhaled and food allergens were 33.1% and 6.3% respectively whereas positive rate to both allergens was 60.6%. The most common inhaled allergens were house dust mites i.e. Blomia tropicalis (58%), Dermatophagoides farinae (55%), and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (49.5%), followed by cockroach (32.6%), cat dander (26.6%), Alternaria alternata (24.3%), and Aspergillus mix (18.3%). Yolc egg was the most common food allergen (31.7%), followed by chocolate (30.7%), shrimp (22.5%), and soya (11.5%).

Conclusion  The percentage of positive SPT is high. The most common allergen is house dust mite (Blomia tropicalis).

Keywords: Allergen, house dust mites, IgE-mediated allergy, skin prick test