Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2009 Sep;29(3):166-170.

Prevalence of Sensitization Rates to Inhalant Allergens and Airway Hyperresponsiveness among Medical Students in Seoul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to aeroallergens and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are major risk factors for respiratory allergies such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. The frequency of positive skin tests differs depending on countries and environmental exposure. While skin test positivity has been studied in patients with asthma or respiratory symptoms, there have been few reports on sensitization rates to aeroallergens and AHR in the general population in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we aimed to assess skin test positivity to common aeroallergens and AHR in medical students living in Seoul with or without respiratory allergy. METHOD: In medical students aged 21~36 years respiratory allergy was assessed by the questionnaire regarding the previous diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and asthma. Skin prick testing was performed for 10 common aeroallergens. A positive response was defined as a wheal diameter greater or equal to that of histamine. AHR was determined based on the results of methacholine bronchial provocation tests. RESULT: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma in 227 subjects was estimated as 20.7% and 4.4%, respectively. Atopy, which was defined as a positive response to 1 or more allergens on skin test, was present in 48.0% of the population and common aeroallergens were as follows: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (37.9%), Dermatophagoides farinae (35.7%), Tyrophagus putrescentiae (8.8%), cat (7.0%), mugwort (6.2%), cockroach (3.5%), ragweed (3.5%), dog (3.5%), Alternaria (3.5%) and Aspergillus (2.2%). Subjects with respiratory allergy showed higher rates of atopy (74.5% vs. 40.3%, P<0.001) and AHR (31.4% vs. 6.8%, P<0.001) than those without. AHR was found in 12.2% of the subjects and was significantly associated with atopy and the sensitization to mite allergens.
CONCLUSION
This study shows a significantly high prevalence of atopy and AHR among young medical students in Seoul with or without respiratory allergy. These findings suggest a recent high prevalence of atopy and AHR in young populations in Korea.

MeSH Terms

Aged
Allergens
Alternaria
Ambrosia
Animals
Artemisia
Aspergillus
Asthma
Cats
Cockroaches
Dermatophagoides farinae
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Dogs
Environmental Exposure
Histamine
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Korea
Methacholine Chloride
Mites
Prevalence
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Risk Factors
Skin
Skin Tests
Students, Medical
Surveys and Questionnaires
Allergens
Histamine
Methacholine Chloride