title: [Clinical significance of skin prick test for inhalant allergens in 3085 children with allergic diseases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the main inhalant allergens and their distribution patterns in children with allergic diseases from Xi'an and the surrounding area and to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin prick test was performed using liquid with 13 standardized allergens (ALK-ABELL, Denmark) on 3085 children from Xi'an and the surrounding area who were treated for allergic diseases between July 2006 and July 2011, to detect inhalant allergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3085 patients, 1368 (44.34%) had positive SPT results, with the most prevalent inhalant allergen being Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (804 cases, 26.06%), followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (793 cases, 25.71%), Blomia tropicalis (440 cases, 14.26%), mugwort (282 cases, 9.14%), and cat hair (204 cases, 6.61%). The positive rates were 28.66% in the <4 years group, 41.85% in the 4-6 years group, and 58.61% in the 7-15 years group (P<0.01). Males had a significantly higher SPT positive rate than females (47.78% vs 38.50%；P<0.05). The SPT positive rate was highest in children with allergic rhinitis (72.41%), followed by bronchial asthma (62-25%), allergic dermatosis (45.83%), and allergic purpura (36.28%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In children from Xi'an and the surrounding area, the main inhalant allergens for allergic diseases include Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia tropicalis, mugwort and cat hair. The SPT positive rate increases with age. Male children have a higher SPT positive rate than female children. The SPT positive rate is highest in children with allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. quanyi@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Sheng-Quan
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.forename: Cui-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Kai-Li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ya-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens