ALLERGIES AND SKIN TESTING - A NAIROBI EXPERIENCE

A prospective study of 72 consecutive patients with symptoms of allerg y is presented. Patients aged 20-39 years formed the bulk of the study population (55.6%). Most patients had allergic rhinitis (48.6%); bron chial asthma and atopic dermatitis occurred in 29 patients (40.3%) eac h. Drug allergies were found in 22 patients (30.6%), urticaria in 15 ( 20.8%), food allergies in 13(18.1%), contact dermatitis in 10(13.9%) a nd allergic conjuctivitis in 6 patients (8.3%). In many cases more tha n one allergic condition appeared simultaneously. Skin and prick tests and skin patch tests were done on 46(63.9%) and 65(90.3%) patients re spectively. Soaps were most frequently implicated in positive reaction s (75.0%); D. pteronyssinus, drugs, animal dander and foods gave posit ive reactions in 40.3%, 30.6%, 19.4% and 18.1% respectively. The need to have a high index of suspicion towards allergic conditions, especia lly extrinsic bronchial asthma is stressed.