title: Efficacy and safety of specific immunotherapy to mosquito bites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adverse effects of mosquito bites are often very unpleasant and need a treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of specific immunotherapy (S.I.T) with an extract of the whole body of the mosquito Aedes communis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients having strong local immediate and delayed reactions with in many cases also an allergic rhinitis, were selected. A similar control group was included. In all these patients skin tests, RASTs and nasal provocation tests were carried out with an extract of Aedes communis and a battery of the commonest allergens in our area including two insects : Blatella germanica (german cockroach) and Gasterophilus intestinalis (horse fly). The specific immunotherapy was carried out by the conventionnal subcutaneous route.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 18 months of S.I.T all the patients reported the disappearance of local reactions and symptoms of allergic rhinitis, which was correlated with a statistically improvement of symptom and drug consumption scores and a decrease of allergenic reactivity by the nasal provocation test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S.I.T with an extract of Aedes communis produced after 18 months of treatment a significant improvement of allergic symptoms, a decrease of symptom and drug consumption scores and of allergen specific nasal reactivity. S.I.T in mosquito bite allergy appears to be effective and safe in the treatment of both cutaneous and respiratory symptoms.
authors.affiliation: U.O. di Medicina Generale, Modulo di Allergologia ed Immunologia Clinica, A.S.L. n. 1 Imperiese, Ospedale "S. Charles" Bordighera, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ariano
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Panzani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000276:immunology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004175:Diptera / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012449:Safety; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides