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Patients in Cameroon show high sensitization to aeroallergens

A significant proportion of patients in Cameroon showed a sensitization to aeroallergens, including dust mites and cockroaches, according to recent research.

“This study revealed that a significant proportion of young adults in Cameroon are sensitized to common aeroallergens with dust mites identified as the most prevalent allergens,” Bertrand Hugo Mbatchou Ngahane, MD, of the department of internal medicine at Douala General Hospital in Douala, Cameroon, and colleagues wrote. “In order to recommend proper allergen avoidance and to prescribe allergen specific immunotherapy, skin prick tests containing mites and cockroach allergens should be considered in patients presenting with symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis.”

Between February and April 2014, Ngahane and colleagues performed a cross-sectional study of 600 students (50.8% women; mean age, 22.6 ± 2.7 years) from the faculty of medicine and pharmaceutical sciences of University of Douala. Participants underwent skin prick tests and filled out an anonymous questionnaire to determine sensitization to aeroallergens.

The researchers found that 42.8% of patients were sensitive to aeroallergens, with 24.2% of patients sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssimus, 23.3% sensitive to Blomia tropicalis, 22.8% sensitive to Dermatophagoides farinae and 15.2% sensitive to Blatella germanica as the most common sensitizations. Ngahane and colleagues noted that factors such as asthma symptoms, family atopy and allergic rhinitis were independently associated with sensitization to aeroallergens. – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.