title: Cockroach sensitivity in asthmatic Egyptian children.
abstract: Cockroach-specific IgE antibodies (CR-IgE) were assayed in the sera of 51 asthmatic and 33 healthy, nonallergic children. Cockroach IgE was detected in 43 asthmatic children (84%), seven of whom showed a high CR-IgE response (> or = 1.5 IU/ml). Only three of the healthy children (9%) had a positive response, and none of them were in the strongly positive category. The difference from the asthmatic group was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Children with clinically mild asthma had a significantly lower CR-IgE positivity rate than moderate and severe cases. The presence of other allergic manifestations or family history of atopy had no relationship to CR-IgE, nor did the residency, age, duration of illness, or total serum IgE levels. However, the CR-IgE titres were positively correlated with the absolute eosinophil counts. Thus, cockroach antigens are common inhalant allergens in Egyptian asthmatic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: el-Gamal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hossny
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: el-Basiony
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galal
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D007073:Immunoglobulin E