Association between sensitization to outdoor spider mites and clinical manifestations of asthma and rhinitis in the general population of adults.
It has been demonstrated that spider mites such as the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) are important allergens for fruit farmers. A total of 2,467 adults (795 metropolitan urban, 788 non-metropolitan urban, and 884 rural subjects) were enrolled. They responded to the questionnaire, and underwent methacholine bronchial provocation tests as well as skin prick tests to locally common aeroallergens including the two-spotted spider mite. The prevalences of asthma and rhinitis as reported on the questionnaire were 7.8% and 16.4% of adults aged 20-35, 9.4% and 24.7% of those 36-50, and 17.7% and 21.7% of those older than 50, respectively. Among the older group, the two-spotted spider mite was the most common sensitizing allergen, although it was second of that of house dust mites among the other two age groups. Sensitization to the two-spotted spider mite was significantly associated with the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis among the younger age group, and associated with the prevalence of rhinitis among the older age group. The two-spotted spider mite might be a common sensitizing allergen in the general population of adults, and sensitization to this mite may play a role in the manifestation of asthma and rhinitis symptoms during adulthood.
Kim
Tae Bum
TB
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Korea.
Kim
Yoon Keun
YK
Chang
Yoon Seok
YS
Kim
Sang Hoon
SH
Hong
Sung Chul
SC
Jee
Young Koo
YK
Cho
Sang Heon
SH
Min
Kyung Up
KU
Kim
You Young
YY
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D040102:Tetranychidae / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens