title: Storage mite sensitisation is associated with early life village residence in Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Storage mites (SMs) occur in house-dust and the rate of sensitisation to them is high. We aimed to investigate if past and current living conditions are associated with the risk of SM sensitisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 321 patients (70% females) aged 33.6 ± 11.9 years (range: 14-68 years) were studied at our allergy unit between September 2009 and December 2010. Patients with persistent or intermittent rhinitis and/or asthma were included in the study. Skin prick tests (SPTs) for SMs (Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, and Acarus siro) and other common aeroallergens were performed. Demographic data and characteristics of the patients' homes were assessed via a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 102 (31.8%) patients were sensitised to ≥ 1 SM, of whom 43.1% were also sensitised to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Comparison between the SPT-negative group (n = 129) and the SM-positive only group (n = 33) showed that having lived in a village during the first years of life was associated with SM sensitisation. Current place of residence was not significantly associated with any of the study variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Living conditions have been changing and SM sensitisation may be associated with a history of village residence. The high rate of SM sensitisation observed in the study population might indicate the necessity of including those mite species in SPT panels, but the clinical relevance of sensitisation remains unclear. The clinical importance of SM sensitisation in urban areas should be investigated further.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Adult Allergy Unit, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: edamadoglu@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Celebioglu
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kalyoncu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012882:Skin Tests; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides
keywords: Allergic asthma; Allergic sensitisation; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; House-dust mite; Skin prick test; Storage mite; Village life