title: Identification of aero-allergen sensitization in children seeking treatment for bronchial asthma at a tertiary care hospital for children in Sri Lanka.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite a significant rise in asthma globally as well as in Sri Lanka, data regarding allergen sensitization patterns and other risk factors for asthma are not available. Therefore, we set out to determine the allergen sensitization patterns in children with asthma in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin prick testing for common indoor aeroallergens (cockroach, cat, dog, house dust mite, moulds) were carried out in 156 children with bronchial asthma at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  49.1% of the patients were sensitized to at least one allergen and 6.4% were sensitized to three or more allergens. Of the children 37.8% tested positive to house dust mite, 23.7% to cockroach, 5.8% to indoor moulds, 12.2% to cats and 8.9% to dogs. Allergen sensitization was significantly less in children aged four years or younger than in older children (p<0.0001). A family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis (AR) was a significant risk factor (p<0.0001) for allergen sensitization (OR 10.9, 95% CI 3.9 to 30.1). Frequency of symptoms was significantly higher in those who used firewood alone compared to those who used other fuels (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitization to aero-allergens was seen in a majority of children with asthma. Sensitization was significantly more in children above 4 years of age. Patients with more frequent symptoms and with AR were more likely to be sensitized to allergens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. gathsaurie.malavige@ndm.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Senanayake
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.forename: M D C J P
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jayamanna
authors.forename: J A S S K
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ratnayaka
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jayasuriya
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Malavige
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D063128:Tertiary Health Care
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens