title: Diversity of allergen exposure: implications for the efficacy of environmental control.
abstract: The prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis has increased in the last decades. The relationship between allergen exposure, atopic sensitization and development of allergic diseases is widely described in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate measures for reducing allergen exposure as part of the treatment of allergic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis was made of previous studies on allergen exposure done with a similar methodology in the central region of Brazil; the study included homes, hotels, cinemas, cars, taxis, buses and scholar transportation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of Der p 1 and Der f 1 mite allergens were found in a large proportion of the sample in most of the environments included in those studies; there were higher levels of pet allergens in cars and school transportation vehicles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diversity of allergen exposure demonstrates the need for education about allergic diseases for patients and their families, as well as measures of reducing allergens in homes. This should be part of a global strategy of the management of allergic diseases, given that individuals live in society, not only in their houses.
authors: Programa de Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia.
authors: Gesmar Rodrigues Silva
authors: GR
authors: Segundo
authors: Mônica Camargo
authors: MC
authors: Sopelete
authors: Sílvia Azevedo
authors: SA
authors: Terra
authors: Fernando Lourenço
authors: FL
authors: Pereira
authors: Caroline Morais
authors: CM
authors: Justino
authors: Deise Aparecida de Oliveira
authors: DA
authors: Silva
authors: Ernesto Akio
authors: EA
authors: Taketomi
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001938:Brazil; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1