PREVALENCE OF ATOPY IN STUDENTS FROM MALAGA, SPAIN

Background: Epidemiologic studies are necessary to determine the preva lence of allergic diseases. This varies widely depending on allergen p reparations and patients studied. Objective: To investigate the preval ence of atopic disease, skin test reactivity, total and specific IgE t o common allergens, and other variables in a sample of students from M alaga, southern Spain. Methods: Three hundred sixty-five students (age 17.9 +/- 1.18) were interviewed by an allergist. Skin prick tests wer e performed with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Artemisia vulgaris, P lantago lanceolata, Chenopodium album, Olea europaea, Phleum pratense, Parietaria judaica, Cynodon dactylon Alternaria tenuis, and cat dande r. Total and specific IgE to D. pteronyssinus, Olea, and Parietaria we re determined. Results: Of all subjects studied, 19.9% suffered from r hinoconjunctivitis, 4.1% rhinoconjunctivitis plus asthma, 3.1% asthma alone, and 0.8% atopic dermatitis; 46.4% had a positive skin test to a t least one allergen (28.2% to D. pteronyssinus, 20.4% to Olea, 13.8% to Phleum); and 43% had total IgE > 100kU/L and 44.7% a family history of atopy. Allergic symptoms were strongly associated with skin test p ositivities and family allergic history. Patients with asthma or skin prick test positive had higher total IgE values than others (P <.01). There was a significant correlation between specific IgE values and wh eal size in skin test. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the high prev alence of atopic diseases, and the close relationship of skin tests re activity (or presence of specific IgE) to allergens with symptoms of a sthma and rhinitis. The presence of a family history of allergic disea ses influences the development of positive skin tests and atopic illne ss. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and pollen of Olea europaea were fo und to be the most common allergens.