ISSN:
1365-2222
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background Recent investigations have demonstrated that the citrus red mite (Panonychus citri, CRM) is the most important allergen in citrus fruit farmers with asthma and rhinitis and a common sensitizing allergen in children living near citrus orchards.Objective To evaluate the sensitization rate to CRM and the association between sensitization to CRM and atopic diseases, such as athma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis, in adolescents living in rural areas with citrus orchards.Methods A total of 2005 adolescents (aged from 16 to 18 years) living in rural areas with citrus orchards were enrolled. Subjects were evaluated by a questionnaire and a skin prick test with 11 common aeroallergens including CRM.Results The prevalences of current wheeze, rhinoconjuntivitis, and eczema on the questionnaire were 13.0%, 13.6%, and 8.8%, respectively. On skin prick tests, the most common sensitizing allergen was CRM [20.6%], followed by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (18.5%), D. farinae (14.6%) and cockroach (9.8%). The prevalence of current eczema was significantly associated with the sensitization to CRM (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.9), although the prevalence of current wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis was not associated with it. Among adolescents living near citrus orchards, however, the prevalences of current wheeze and rhinoconjuncitivitis were significantly higher in those with sensitization to only CRM than in those without sensitization to any allergens (20.3% vs. 14.1% and 20.3% vs. 15.0%, P 〈 0.05, respectively).Conclusion CRM is the most common sensitizing allergen in adolescents living in rural areas with citrus orchards, and sensitization to CRM was significantly associated with the prevalence of atopic dermatitis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.2002.01431.x
Permalink
