title: House dust mites in pediatric atopic dermatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate hypersensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus) and D. farinae in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), and to assess the therapeutic value of using acaricides with other environmental anti house dust mites (HDM) measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight children with AD were chosen randomly from the Pediatric Allergy Clinic in Al-Noor Hospital, Khalifa branch, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates during the period between January 2008 to January 2009 and were evaluated for severity and chronicity. They were subjected to skin prick test (SPT) including D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae antigens and were also assessed for the therapeutic value of acaricides and environmental anti HDM measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 74.5% of patients were sensitive to one or both strains of HDM. A highly significant association was found between the severity of the symptoms of AD and its persistence with hypersensitivity to HDM (p=0.001). Acaricides and environmental anti HDM measures can improve patients with mild AD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypersensitivity to HDM is an important factor for the more acute, more chronic, and more severe AD. Anti HDM measures including the use of acaricides can help control mild AD. We recommend SPT as a part of the work up of patients with AD. The HDM sensitive patients can benefit from anti HDM measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, PO Box 46713, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. drtadham@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tamer M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Adham
authors.forename: Safwat A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: Naglaa M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Abdo
mesh_terms: D056810:Acaricides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology*; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests; D014479:United Arab Emirates
chemical_list: D056810:Acaricides