title: Prevalence of allergy to some inhalants among rhinitis patients in Malaysia.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine the seasonal prevalence of allergies to house dust, D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, cat fur, dog hair, mixed moulds, mixed grass pollens and American cockroach. A total of 314 patients with clinically suspected allergic rhinitis was examined by prick test using commercial preparations of the above allergens. Total serum IgE of the patients was determined by a Sandwich ELISA. Ninety-six percent of the patients tested positive to more than one allergen. Most were positive to a combination of 4 allergens. More than 70% of the patients were positive to house dust, D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae and cat fur. Analysis indicates that for an individual who tests positive for house dust, there is a very high risk of the person being allergic to the dust mites and cat fur too. Most of the allergens had 2 peak period of high positive PT rates; mixed moulds and mixed grass pollens had 3 peaks. There was significant positive correlation between the monthly positive PT rates against mixed moulds and mixed grass pollens with maximum daily mean temperature and mean temperature at 14.00 hours.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008296:Malaysia; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust