Pattern of skin sensitivity to various aeroallergens by skin prick test in patients of allergic airway disease in South Western Maharashtra.

The prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis is high in the general population, and aeroallergens are the most common allergens that cause airway inflammation. Skin prick testing (SPT) is a validated method to diagnose IgE-mediated allergic diseases. The knowledge of allergen sensitivity pattern in this part of India is limited. The present study was undertaken to identify common aeroallergens prevalent in this area using a standardized SPT. We did a cross-sectional hospital-based study. A total of 330 patients of proven allergic airway disease underwent SPT. We used a validated skin prick test which included 22 allergen extracts, 1 positive control, and 1 negative control. A total of 327 patients were included in the study. Two hundred seventy-one (82.27%, n = 327) patients had a positive SPT to one or more aeroallergen extract. The sensitivity of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (49.85%) was seen in the maximum number of people followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (47.70%). In our study, dust mites were the most common aeroallergen seen in maximum study subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]