EXPOSURE AND SENSITIZATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGEN OF PREDOMINANTLYHISPANIC CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA IN SAN-DIEGO INNER-CITY

Background: Environmental living conditions co-sorting with economic s tatus may influence the disease morbidity rate of childhood asthma in ethnic minority urban poor populations. Objectives: This study was car ried out to assess exposure and sensitization to environmental allerge ns in southeast San Diego children with current asthma-related symptom s and to determine the utility of environmental control measures. Meth ods: Children, 9 to 12 years old, with current asthma-related symptoms were identified and enrolled at four school sites. Skin prick testing with aeroallergens was performed, and allergen in collected dust (fro m mattresses, pillows, and bedroom carpets) was quantified by enzyme i mmunoassay. Environmental control instruction and products were provid ed. Results: Of 41 subjects who underwent skin testing, 51.2% were rea ctive to environmental allergens (39% to mite, 22% to cockroach, and 9 .8% to cat). Mean allergen levels for sensitized subjects were: Der p I (11 subjects), 18,722 ng/gm dust; Der f 1 (8 subjects), 5345 ng/gm d ust; Fel d 1 (3 subjects), 214 ng/gm dust; Bla 1 (8 subjects), 7.15 U/ gm dust; and Bla 2 (3 subjects) 7.13 U/gm dust. Environmental allergen exposure levels were not significantly different between sensitized a nd nonsensitized subjects. Environmental control measures for mite exp osure were completed in six homes of sensitized subjects. One month af ter treatment, allergen levels fell 91.2% for Der p 1, 98.9% for Der f 1, and 88.2% for Fel d 1. One year after treatment, mite and cat alle rgen levels remained low. Environmental control had no consistent impa ct on cockroach allergen levels. Conclusion: Environmental allergen se nsitization and exposure may be cofactors contributing to increased di sease severity in urban poor populations.