title: Perennial aeroallergens sensitisation and risk of asthma in African children and adolescents: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The distribution and impact of various aeroallergens on asthma occurrence vary across regions. We investigated the association between sensitisation to perennial aeroallergens and asthma risk in children and adolescents in Yaounde, Cameroon.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study involving children and adolescents with asthma (cases) vs. non-allergic counterparts (controls). Children/adolescents with doctor-diagnosed asthma were included over a period of 30 months, and controls were selected from the community through random sampling. Logistic regression models were used to relate perennial aeroallergens sensitisation with asthma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The asthma and control groups included, respectively, 151 and 372 participants, with no sex ratio difference. The mean age (standard deviation) was 11.9 (4.4) years in cases and 11.3 (3.7) years in controls. The prevalence of sensitisation to any aeroallergen (cases vs. controls) was 76.8% (116/151) and 32.3% (120/372), p < 0.001. Sensitisation to mites was found in 104 (68.9%) cases vs. 56 (15.1%) controls, p < 0.001. In multivariable analysis, sensitisation to Alternaria alternata, Blattella germanica and dander (cat and dog) was not associated with asthma. However, sensitisation to mites was significantly associated with asthma. Odds ratios (95% CI) for sensitisation to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae and Blomia tropicalis in relation with asthma were 7.28 (3.75-14.15), 2.65 (1.27-5.45) and 3.23 (1.68-6.21), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitisation to mites was the main perennial allergenic factor associated with asthma in children and adolescents in this setting. This has application for the selection of patients with asthma who could benefit from the control of exposure to mites and specific immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine and Subspecialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences , University of Yaounde I , Yaounde , Cameroon .
authors.forename: Eric Walter
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Pefura-Yone
authors.forename: Charles Lebon
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mbele-Onana
authors.forename: Adamou Dodo
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Balkissou
authors.forename: Elvira Christelle
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kenmegne-Noumsi
authors.forename: Julie Raïcha
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boulleys-Nana
authors.forename: Barbara Linda
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kolontchang-Yomi
authors.forename: Boris Judicaël
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Theubo-Kamgang
authors.forename: Patricia Ingrid
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ndjeutcheu-Moualeu
authors.forename: Emilienne Régine
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Ebouki
authors.forename: André Pascal
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kengne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D057805:Pets / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: Africa; allergens; allergic disease; atopy