title: Sensitisation to aeroallergens in Brazilian adolescents living at the periphery of large subtropical urban centres.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sensitization to aeroallergens determined by skin prick test (SPT) in Brazilian adolescents, and to correlate its positivity with the diagnosis of asthma and/or rhinitis based on the written questionnaire (WQ) of ISAAC phase III study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 996 adolescents (387 boys) were selected by systematic samples. A standard allergen extracts panel (positive/negative control, D pteronyssinus [Dpt], P americana [Pa], B germanica [Bg], dog, cat, fungal and grass mix) was used and its positivity compared with positive responses to asthma, rhinitis or both.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive SPT to at least one allergen was observed in 466 adolescents (46.8 %), with sensitisation to Dpt in 79.1 %. Positivity to more than one allergen occurred in 232 students (49.8 %). The frequency of positive SPTs was significantly higher among adolescents with asthma (OR = 2.16), rhinitis (OR = 1.69), and asthma and rhinitis (OR = 2.03). Positive SPT to four or more allergens were higher among asthmatics (OR = 2.6) and among adolescents with asthma and rhinitis (OR = 3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high sensitisation rate to aeroallergens was observed, significantly higher among those with asthma, rhinitis or a combination of both, especially in multiple sensitisations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Children's Institute, São Paulo University School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. antoniocp@icr.hcnet.usp.br
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pastorino
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Kuschnir
authors.forename: L K P
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: R R D
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.forename: R G L
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: G A C
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: H H N
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: A J L A
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: C M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solé
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011203:Poverty; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012882:Skin Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013383:Suburban Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens