POSTER PRESENTATION Open Access
Cockroach sensitivity in allergic rhinitis patients;
is it significant? To see prevalence of cockroach
sensitivity in allergic rhinitis patients in
Kingston area
Tahira Batool*, Rozita Borici-Mazi
From Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting 2010
Victoria, Canada. 3-6 November 2010
Background
Role of cockroach allergy in asthma has been widely studied
and the effect of environmental control on asthma
symptoms has been established. However, the role of
cockroach sensitivity remains unknown. We have
designed this study to establish role of cockroach sensitization
on allergic rhinitis.
Hypothesis
Cockroach allergy has significant role in allergic rhinitis.
Population
Allergic rhinitis patients attending allergy and clinical
immunology clinic under Dr Rozita Borici-Mazi in Kingston
General Hospital, Kingston ON.
Method
Retrospective chart review of patients evaluated for
allergic rhinitis and underwent skin prick testing.
A cohort of 250 patients was randomly selected with
inclusion criteria being symptomatic allergic rhinitis and
positive allergy skin prick testing to usual panel of allergens.
Data collection included demographics, smoking
exposure, symptom pattern, presence or absence of
non-nasal symptoms, positive skin prick testing for
cockroach and other environmental allergens such as
dust mite, cat, dog, and seasonal pollens.
Results
Allergy to seasonal allergens was found to be the most
common (n=191, 76.4%) followed by house dust mite
(n=149, 59.6%) and cat allergen (n=118, 47.2%). Cockroach
sensitization was found in 62 (25%). Among the
cockroach sensitivity group, 8 patients had monosensitization
to cockroach. All of them had perennial symptoms.
75%of these people were residents of urban areas.
Two patients who had symptoms for more than 8 years
had developed asthma.
Conclusion
Cockroach allergy is found to be one of the significant
indoor allergens in allergic rhinitis in Kingston area.
Given the relationship of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma
development, there is need to recognize this important
allergen earlier and treat it through allergen avoidance
and/or Immunotherapy, not only to treat allergic rhinitis
symptoms but also to prevent development of allergic
asthma. Further studies to establish the correlation
between allergic rhinitis and cockroach sensitization are
needed.
Published: 4 November 2010
doi:10.1186/1710-1492-6-S2-P11
Cite this article as: Batool and Borici-Mazi: Cockroach sensitivity in
allergic rhinitis patients; is it significant? To see prevalence of cockroach
sensitivity in allergic rhinitis patients in Kingston area. Allergy, Asthma &
Clinical Immunology 2010 6(Suppl 2):P11.
* Correspondence: 7TB11@queensu.ca
Department of Internal Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario,
Ann Allergy. 1978 Dec;41(6):333-6.
A comparative study of prevalence of skin hypersensitivity to cockroach and house dust antigens.
Kang B, Sulit N.
Abstract
Allergy skin tests with cockroach antigen along with various common inhalant allergens were performed on 222 atopic and on 63 non-atopic subjects. The most prevalent allergen producing a positive skin test was house dust antigen with a positive response of 72%, 78% and 57% in atopic adults, atopic children and non-atopic children, respectively. The next prevalent positive skin test was to cockroach antigen with 50%, 60% and 27%, respectively, of the three groups tested. The differences between positive cockroach hypersensitivity and house dust hypersensitivity in all three groups tested were statistically significant. Next in order of prevalence of positive skin test to common inhalants were western weeds, ragweeds and cats. Incidence of cockroach hypersensitivity was 58% among asthmatic adults and 69% among asthmatic children. The results indicate that cockroach hypersensitivity is highly prevalent and that cockroach antigen is an independent agent from house dust as a cause of immediate hypersensitivity reaction.
PMID: 569451 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
WISEMAN RD, WOODIN WG, MILLER HC, MYERS MA. Insect allergy as a possible cause of inhalant sensitivity. J Allergy. 1959 May–Jun;30(3):191–197. [PubMed]
