Methods: In an analytical transversal study the ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) questionnaire was applied to determine the presence of atopic diseases in 100 students from 6 to 7 years old in a primary school in San Antonio de los Baños Community, La Habana, Cuba in February-March, 2007. The sensitization to domestic dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis was explored by prick tests. Chi square was applied to determine the statistical association between sensitization to mites and the presence atopic diseases.
Results: The prevalence of asthma was in 27%, allergic rhinitis in 40% and 26% to atopic dermatitis. The 50% of the studied infantile population presented a mite positive skin test; the 22 % was positive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 26 % to Dermatophagoides siboney and 52 % to Blomia tropicalis. There was a significant statistically association between cutaneous mite reactivity and the presence of atopic diseases; inside this group, asthma and/or allergic rhinitis also had a statistical association with skin sensitization to mites.
Conclusions: Fifty percent of the studied population had a mite sensitization, mainly to Blomia tropicalis, showing a significant statistical association with the presence of atopic diseases, an important health problem in the studied area.