Table 1.
Characteristics of environmental allergens in asthma patients.
| Country | Study design | Main findings | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | 423 patients | Mites and cockroach were the most prevalent sensitizing allergens: Df (59.8%), Dp (50.4%), Bt (49.6%), storage mites mix (10.4%), and cockroach (10.2%) | (81) |
| 610 CRD patients, 56% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 31% were asthma patients | 50% of asthma patients were sensitised to mites and 70% were sensitised to at least one airborne allergen. The most frequent sensitisers were dust mites (Df 22%, Bt 19%, Dp 18%) and cockroach droppings (13%). | (59) | |
| 684 patients based on modified GA2LEN study questionnaire | The most common sensitizer among adults in northern Vietnam was the storage mite Bt (men 27.7%; women 18.7%), followed by Dp (men 16.5%; women 10.6%); and Df (men 15.3%; women 6.3%), and cockroach (men 16.5%; women 10.2%). | (82) | |
| Africa | Systematic review: 20 studies from 1967 to 2018 | The prevalence of fungal sensitisation was relatively high (3%–52%) in the asthmatic population with an average of 28% and a pooled estimate of 23.3%, mostly due to Aspergillus species | (22) |
| USA | Settled dust samples were vacuumed from 87 classrooms | Mouse allergen was detectable in 81% of the samples collected. Cockroach allergen (Bla g 2) ranged from below limit of detection (<0.003 microg/g) to 1.1 microg/g. Cockroach allergen was detected (>0.003 microg/g) in 71% of the dust samples. Bla g 2 was detected in 22% of airborne samples from the schools. Mouse allergen was only detected in 5%. | (83) |
| 127 physician-diagnosed asthma children | 26% were sensitized to mice. mouse-sensitized children exposed to higher levels of Mus m 1 (>0.5 microg/g) had 50% more days of symptoms and 80% more days of beta-agonist use than others. | (84) | |
| UK | 121 severe asthma patients | 87/121 subjects sensitized to one or more fungi. In single fungal sensitive group, 45% sensitized to Aspergillus, followed by C.Albicans. | (85) |
Bt, Blomia tropicalis; C.Albicans, Candida Albicans; CRD, Chronic Respiratory Diseases; Dp, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Df, Dermatophagoides farinae; GA2LEN, The Global Allergy and Asthma European Network.