Aeroallergen food allergens sensitivity pattern in southern India among patients suffering from allergic disorders

Background:  Allergic Rhinitis ,Asthma and Urticaria are common public health problems throughout the world and prevalence of this condition has increased tremondously due to change in environmental indoor and outdoor pollution. Skin prick test is very useful and simple test in identifying the offending Allergen .

Methods:  948 Patients with features of Allergic Rhinitis , Bronchial Asthma and Urticaria including 502 males and 446 females with average age of 31 yrs were subjected to Skin sensitivity to various Airborne and food allergens by Skin Prick Test..Antihistamines and steroids were stopped 3 days prior to the procedure..Skin prick  test performed using 25 Allergen extracts which included 2 Dust Mites 3 pollens 5  Fungal 2 insects 3 epithelias and 10 food Allergens.Among this group 46% had strong family history of Asthma or Atopy.

Results: Out of 948 patients  752 [79%] showed Positive reaction for atleast one or more Allergens..684 Patients(72%) showed significant reaction for House Dust Mites ,  442(52%) showed positive reaction for Citrus allergen and among insects Cockroach allergen reaction  positive in 169 patients(18%).    Others:    62 patients (6.5%) showed positive reactions for Pollens and 34 patients(3.6%) showed positive reaction for fungal spores. Among food allergens  19 (2%) were positive for Egg and 14(1.5%) were positive for peanut and fish.

Conclusions: Most common Allergen responsible for Allergic Rhinitis and Bronchial Asthma were  House Dust Mites