AEROALLERGEN PREVALENCE IN PUNJAB, INDIA

Dr. Prashant Jerath * and Dr. Samiksha Ahlawat

ABSTRACT

Background: An allergen is a substance capable of triggering a response that starts in the immune system and results in an allergic reaction. Both outdoor and indoor aeroallergens sensitize and exacerbate allergic asthma. Euroline allergy testing is an immunoassay that tests for allergen specific Ig E in patient’s serum sample. Objective: Main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of various aeroallergens by performing euroline allergy testing on blood samples of patients under study. Methods: It was a cross sectional study performed on 500 patients which were having respiratory symptoms of allergy. Sample of all patients were taken and processed for testing on euroline. Out of these 500 patients, were diagnosed with AR, with BA and having both AR and BA. Patients with immunoassay positive reaction for allergens were calculated along with allergen prevalence. Results: From total 500 patients, 440 patients showed a positive reaction on immunoassay testing which means they were sensitized. The most predominant aeroallergen came out be cockroach followed by house dust mite and Dermatophagoids farina. Majorty of the immunoassay positive patients had both AR and BA being 323 (73.4%). Conclusion: As we observed from the results in the study that maximum patients were sensitized to indoor aeroallergens, most predominant being cockroach and dust mites. This points to need for individuals who might be already sensitized but not yet tested should volunteer for allergy testing in order to control early symptoms for developing AR or BA.

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