title: Mosquito allergy: clinical features and natural course.
abstract: Mosquito bite allergic reactions are due to sensitization to mosquito salivary proteins. The purpose of our study was to assess the clinical features of Thai patients with mosquito allergy, and to define the natural desensitization course. Seventy patients with mosquito allergy were enrolled. Most patients were female. Half of the patients had a personal history of atopy. The average age of onset of mosquito reaction was 5.7 years old (range 2-58). Four patients were in the desensitization phase in which clinical symptoms disappeared within 9.5 years (median). The common cutaneous lesions were erythematous papules (68.6%) and immediate wheals (67.1%). The most common area of involvement was the leg. Forty of 50 patients (80%) had positive skin prick testing to mosquito allergen (Culex quinquefasciatus) and 31 of 42 patients (73.8%) had positive immunoglobulin E antibodies against allergens in C. quinquefasciatus saliva proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sikkt@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Kanokvalai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kulthanan
authors.forename: Sirichit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wongkamchai
authors.forename: Daranporn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Triwongwaranat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003465:Culex / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E