PREVALENCE OF ALLERGY TO SOME INHALANTS AMONG RHINITIS PATIENTS IN MALAYSIA

This study was conducted to determine the seasonal prevalence of aller gies to house dust, D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, cat fur, dog hair, m ixed moulds, mixed grass pollens and American cockroach, A total of 31 4 patients with clinically suspected allergic rhinitis was examined by prick test using commercial preparations of the above allergens, Tota l serum IgE of the patients was determined by a Sandwich ELISA, Ninety -six percent of the patients tested positive to more than one allergen , Most were positive to a combination of 4 allergens, More than 70% of the patients were positive to house dust, D. pteronyssinus, D. farina e and cat fur, Analysis indicates that for an individual who tests pos itive for house dust, there is a very high risk of the person being al lergic to the dust mites and cat fur too. Most of the allergens had 2 peak period of high positive PT rates; mixed moulds and mixed grass po llens had 3 peaks, There was significant positive correlation between the monthly positive PT rates against mixed moulds and mixed grass pol lens with maximum daily mean temperature and mean temperature at 14.00 hours.