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Background: Atopic patients are exceptionally sensitive to airborne allergens. Sensitization to fungal allergens may be associated with respiratory allergic disease (RAD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). This study investigates the relationship between sensitization to different fungal allergens and the clinical manifestations of atopic disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of atopic patients from the National Taiwan University Hospital from 2004 to 2009. A total of 133 atopic patients were found who were sensitive to at least 1 of the 3 most common fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium chrysogenum) in Taiwan and were enrolled in the study. These patients were further divided into subgroups of isolated AD, isolated RAD and AD + RAD. The association between sensitization to fungi and allergic disease was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results: The sensitization rate to Candida-specific IgE was 81.2%, followed closely by Aspergillus at 69.2% and Penicillium at 63.2%. Isolated AD was the most common diagnosis. The levels of specific IgE antibodies against Aspergillus, Candida and Penicillium were highest in patients with isolated AD. Logistic regression revealed that isolated AD was highly associated with sensitization to Candida [odds ratio (OR) 10.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.37-45.9]. In contrast, sensitization to Penicillium (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.87)and Candida (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.92) showed a negative association with isolated RAD. Conclusions: Fungal sensitization is more closely associated with AD than RAD. Our results suggest that specific sensitization to fungal allergensplays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atopic disease. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the prevalence of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma in Taiwan, we analysed the claims data of a nationally representative cohort of 997,729 enrolees from the National Health Insurance register from 2000 to 2007. Overall, 66,446 patients were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, and 49.8% of them had concomitant allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. The overall 8-year prevalences of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma were 6.7%, 26.3% and 11.9%, respectively. Children and adolescents had significantly higher prevalences of these atopic diseases. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in females was lower than that in males before the age of 8 years, but became higher after that. Patients with atopic dermatitis were more likely to have allergic rhinitis and asthma. Those having both atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis possessed an even higher risk for asthma (odds ratio 9.04). The numbers of visits for atopic dermatitis were highest in late spring to mid-summer. These data suggest that atopic diseases are common in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]