Skin prick test results of child patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma.

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of asthma is associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Allergen sensitization is an important risk factor in asthma development.

AIM: To evaluate sensitivity to allergens by using the skin prick test in patients with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma.

METHOD: Patients with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma followed-up at the Ministry of Health, Diskapi Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital in Ankara (Turkey) between January 1995 and March 2000 were included. Sensitivity to allergens, as determined by the skin prick test, was evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

The files of a total of 3025 children (63.3 % boys) with bronchial asthma, aged 3 months to 16 years were evaluated. Of the total, 1667 patients with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma and 1358 with bronchial asthma plus allergic rhinitis were under follow-up. Of the 3025 asthmatic patients, 1902 had undergone the skin prick test and 60.3 % of these patients were atopic. The most common allergens were house dust mite [726 patients (63.3 %)], followed by pollens [565 patients (49.3 %)]. The most common allergen within this group was grass pollens [348 patients (30.3 %)].

CONCLUSIONS

Atopy was an important risk factor in our patients and the most common allergens were aeroallegens. The development of sensitization could be delayed by early precautions.