Study of mold allergy in asthmatic children in Hungary.

We studied the change in sensitivity to propagating aerogenic fungi (spores, conidia) in extrinsic asthmatic children living in an urban environment from 1977 to 1988. According to the skin test, 10.6% of those examined in 1977 were sensitive to the fungi, the proportion being 30.4% in 1985 and 38.5% in 1987/88. The increase may be explained by the increasing frequency of sensitivity to Alternaria alternata and Phoma betae. In skin tests with Bencard allergens, reaction to both types was frequently observed. Of those sensitive to P. betae, 83% were also sensitive to A. alternata, and 87.5% of those sensitive to A. alternata were also sensitive to P. betae. The frequency of cross-reactions observed both with skin tests and specific IgE determinations suggests the presence of a common allergen, or epitope. The effect of environmental factors was analyzed with computer techniques. P. betae allergy was not related to detectable mold, humidity or number of pot plants in the home. The living conditions changed during the study period as follows: 1) housing conditions improved; 2) energy-saving building technologies were generally accepted; and 3) air pollution increased, also affecting the vegetation. The sensitizing masses of spores and conidia originated most likely from molds living on plants weakened and diseased by environmental pollution.