title: The possible influence of the environment on respiratory allergy: a survey on immigrants to Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory allergy is influenced and determined by genetic and environmental factors. Migration is a good model to indirectly evaluate the possible influence of environment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical characteristics of respiratory allergy in immigrants to Italy, in comparison with the Italian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical/demographic data of those immigrants stably living in Italy and referred for the first time to allergy services for respiratory allergy were collected in a multicenter survey. All the patients underwent a standard diagnostic workup. A matched Italian population was also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred ninety-eight immigrants and 859 Italians had at least one positive skin test and were analyzed. Most of the patients were referred to the allergy units by their general practitioners. In those patients, the demographic characteristics were not different, except for family size. Immigrants had less family history of atopy. Only 16% had a clinical history of allergy before migration. The time elapsed between migration and onset of symptoms was 5.3 ± 3.1 years, with a minimum of 0.5 and a maximum of 7 years. A higher rate of monosensitization was seen among immigrants, and the severity of their asthma/rhinitis was greater than in Italians. No difference was seen in the pattern of sensitizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population of immigrants, environmental factors play a relevant role in the onset of respiratory allergies.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Sant'Orsola Hospital, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Giorgio Walter
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D031164:Ambrosia / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology; D020048:Blattellidae / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D029781:Cupressus / Q000276:immunology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032403:Parietaria / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens