ALLERGY AND HYPERSENSITIVITY TO MOLDS IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS

Allergy to moulds remains poorly understood, in particular because of the huge number of causative species (> 40 000), of the variety of ind oor and outdoor environments in which moulds can proliferate, and of t he difficulty of obtaining allergenic extracts. This study was underta ken to estimate the prevalence of hypersensitivity to moulds in 52 chi ldren receiving therapy in a medical institution for moderately severe to severe asthma (grade 3 to 4). Mean age was 10 years with a range o f 3.5 to 15 years. All the patients were on maintenance therapy with i nhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilating agents. Hyperse nsitivity to airborne moulds was found in 32 patients (61 %). The most common causative species were Alternaria (40 %), Cladosporium (15 %), Penicillium (6 %), and Aspergillus (6 %). Hypersensitivity to both Al ternaria and Stemphyllium was seen in only five patients. In only two patients were moulds the only allergens (Aspergillus fumigatus in one and Fusarium plus Epicoccum in the other). In the remaining 30 patient s with hypersensitivity to moulds, other allergens included Dermatopha goides pteronyssimus (78 %), Dermatophagoides farinae (71 %), grasses (five different species, 47 %), Dactylum pollens (28 %), Ambrosia (12. 5 %), plantain (9 %), Urticacea (6 %), roaches (25 %), cat dander (25 %), and dog dander (21 %): The distribution was similar in the patient s without hypersensitivity to moulds except for a lower rate of hypers ensitivity to roaches (5 %, P < 0.05), a difference that may be due to the fact that both roaches and moulds thrive in humid environments. T he results of this study are discussed in the light of previous public ations and of data on airborne moulds encountered indoors and outdoors .