Pattern Of Skin Prick Allergy Test Results In Enugu

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem and is increasing in prebbalence up to 10 – 20% over the last half century. Both allergic rhinitis and vasomotorhinitis are the most common health problems encountered in the Ear Nose and Throat Clinic in Nigeria and they afflict all age groups in any modern society.
Aim
In this study we report on pattern of allergy prick skin test results found among atopic patients attending the department of otorhinolargngology of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu and Hansa Clinics, Enugu and propose ways of minimizing the exposure of the population to allergens.
Material and method
76 patients of which 46 were males and 30 females with signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis attending the ENT clinics were randomly recruited for the study. The patients' age ranged from > 9 – 48 years with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Complete medical, family and social history was obtained. The “Allergo Ganzer” Allergy test kit (Germany) was used for skin prick allergy test on each patient.
Result
The reactivities to test allergens were found to be in 44.4% patients positive to house dust mites I & II, 27.2% to house dust, 22% to grass, 16.6% to cereal and trees respectively and only 8.3% to mould.
Conclusion
House dust mites and house dust were the commonest implicated allergens, both accounting for 72.1% of all positive reactivity in our study. The need for avoidance of house rugs and carpets in our homes and offices and the development of local prick test solutions with inclusion of tropical allergens should be emphasized.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis, allergens, house dust mites, house dust Nigeria.

Nigerian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Vol. 3 (2) 2006: pp. 65-71