The most prevalent allergenic airborne pollens among Egyptian patients with respiratory allergy

Background Allergy symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to environmental allergens, such as pollen or dust, which are typically harmless to most individuals but induce a potentially severe reaction to those who are sensitive to them. Pollen is one of the main reasons to cause seasonal allergic respiratory diseases and it is influenced by multiple risk factors. Objective To determine the most prevalent types of allergenic pollens by skin prick testing among Egyptian patients with respiratory allergy (asthma and/or allergic rhinitis). Methods 200 adult patients, all were subjected to the following: full detailed medical history, clinical examination, asthma severity grading according to the GINA Guidelines, allergic rhinitis severity grading according to ARIA Guidelines, pulmonary Function tests for asthmatic patients. (PFTs), CBC with differential for detection of eosinophilic count, Skin prick testing (SPT) to common environmental allergens and common food allergen. Results The present study proved that the grass pollens; timothy grass and maize were the most prevalent pollens among Egyptian respiratory allergy patients. Conclusion Difference in results of SPT performed to patients across different countries is explained by the difference in climates, which affects pollination, Egypt is considered to have a dry, desert-like climate in addition to its coastal regions. Our results revealed that both timothy grass and maize pollens were the most prevalent among Egyptian respiratory allergy patients.

Respiratory allergy with concentration ability in young adults

Introduction: Respiratory allergies prevalence in Indonesia, Asia, and the world ranges from 4-10%. Patients with respiratory allergies and other chronic respiratory diseases often experienced deterioration of productivity and concentration ability. This study aims to observe the correlation between respiratory allergy and concentration ability in adults.

Subjects develop tolerance to Pru p 3 but respiratory allergy to Pru p 9: A large study group from a peach exposed population

Peach tree allergens are present in fruit, pollen, branches, and leaves, and can induce systemic, respiratory, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal symptoms. We studied the capacity of peach fruit/Pru p 1, Pru p 3, Pru p 4, Pru p 7 and peach pollen/Pru p 9 for inducing symptoms following oral or respiratory exposure in a large group of subjects. We included 716 adults (aged 21 to 83 y.o.) exposed to peach tree pollen and fruit intake in the study population. Participants completed a questionnaire and were skin tested with a panel of inhalant and food allergens, including peach tree pollen, Pru p 9 and peach fruit skin extract. Immunoglobulin E antibodies (SIgE) to Pru p 1, Pru p 3, Pru p 4 and Pru p 7 were quantified. Sensitised subjects underwent oral food challenge with peach fruit and nasal provocation test with peach tree pollen and Pru p 9. The prevalence of sensitisation to peach fruit was 5% and most of these had SIgE to Pru p 3, with a very low proportion to Pru p 4 SIgE and no SIgE to Pru p 1 and Pru p 7. In only 1.8%, anaphylaxis was the clinical entity induced. Cases with positive skin tests to peach and SIgE to Pru p 3 presented a good tolerance after oral challenge with peach fruit. The prevalence of skin sensitisation to peach tree pollen was 22%, with almost half recognising Pru p 9. This induced respiratory symptoms in those evaluated by nasal provocation. In a large population group exposed to peach fruit and peach tree pollen, most individuals were tolerant, even in those with SIgE to Pru p 3. A positive response to Pru p 9 was associated with respiratory allergy.

Atopic dermatitis: clinical phenotypes, persistence and comorbidity

Background. Atopic dermatitis is the most common skin disease among children. Its natural history is heterogeneous with a difference in age of manifestation, localization of lesions, severity, sensitization profiles, presence of comorbid atopic conditions, and longitudinal trajectories of disease progression. The study aimed to assess the impact of factors such as the onset of the disease, atopic family history, presence of concomitant allergic pathology, duration of breastfeeding on the course of the disease and the development of respiratory allergies, and the impact of environmental factors that aggravate the disease. Materials and methods. Children with atopic dermatitis (n = 88) were included in the study from September 2020 to April 2021 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Symptoms of respiratory allergy in the history of patients have been documented as comorbidity. Results. Total of 88 patients at the time of examination presented with manifestations of atopic dermatitis in the form of a rash, dry skin, scaling, itching, lichenization. The disease severity was significantly related to the age of onset: children with early phenotype had more severe disease (OR = 16.261; 2.056–127.911). There was no statistically significant association of early phenotype of atopic dermatitis with the development of concomitant allergic diseases (OR = 1.813; 0.415–7.916). A severe course was observed in the group of children with atopic family history (OR = 2.750; 1.123–6.735). Children with severe atopic dermatitis had a high risk of concomitant respiratory allergy (OR = 5.604; 1.863–16.863). The duration of breastfeeding did not impact the severity of atopic dermatitis (OR = 0.778; 0.119–5.100) and the risk of concomitant atopic diseases (OR = 1.417; 0.444–4.521). The course of atopic dermatitis was influenced by seasonality in 76 children (86.4 %): the condition of the skin deteriorated in the winter. Contact with the animal was associated with exacerbation of atopic dermatitis in 4 (4.5 %) children, food ingestion — in 20 children (25 %), pollen trees and grasses caused exacerbation in 5 children (5.7 %). Conclusions. Children with a severe phenotype of atopic dermatitis are at risk of developing respiratory allergies. Patients with atopic dermatitis who develop symptoms at the age of under 2 years, as well as those with an atopic family history, are at high risk of developing a severe disease phenotype.

Prevalence and associated factors of respiratory allergies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional investigation, September–December 2020

Background Prevalence of different respiratory allergies is increasing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Environmental risk factors of respiratory allergy vary regionally, hence the prevalence. This necessitates the needs for regional studies. This article reports prevalence and symptoms of respiratory allergies in the Qassim region, and the factors associated with the prevalence. Methods Eight hundred and fifty individuals aged ≥18 years and were living in the Qassim region filled up our structured online questionnaire between September and December 2020. We estimated the prevalence of different respiratory allergies with 95% confidence intervals. Multi-variable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the risk factors of respiratory allergies. Findings The prevalence of any respiratory allergy in the Qassim region was 28.8%. Most families (58.1%) had at least one member with respiratory allergy. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma were 13.5% and 11.2% 4.1% respectively. The reported symptoms included runny nose (13.6%), red, watery, and itchy eyes (10.4%), difficulty sleeping at night (10.2%), difficulty breathing in cold weather (9.2%), noisy breathing (8.5%), sneezing (8%), repeated coughing (7.5%) and shortness of breath (6.4%). Individuals with a family history were more likely to report any respiratory allergy (OR: 7.8), bronchial asthma (OR: 4.2) and allergic rhinitis (OR: 8.1) compared to the individuals without such family history. Odds of respiratory allergies was higher among males (OR: 1.5). Saudi nationals were less likely to report allergic rhinitis than the non-Saudis (OR: 0.4). Among those who reported a respiratory allergy, most (73.5%) received treatment and majority (61.7%) demonstrated compliance to the treatment, 8.8% needed hospitalization, and 23.1% needed emergency nebulization. Conclusions Prevalence reported in our study is different than that reported in other regions. Variability in the environmental exposures might explain this. We recommend a meta-analysis to estimate the national prevalence of respiratory allergies.

Impact of Probiotic Bacteria on Respiratory Allergy Disorders

Respiratory allergy is a common disease with an increased prevalence worldwide. The effective remedy is still unknown, and a new therapeutic approach is highly desirable. The review elaborates the influence of probiotic bacteria on respiratory allergy prevention and treatment with particular emphasis on the impact of the current methods of their administration – oral and intranasal. The background of the respiratory allergy is complex thus, we focused on the usefulness of probiotics in the alleviation of different allergy factors, in particular involved in pathomechanism, local hypersensitive evidence and the importance of epithelial barrier. In this review, we have shown that (1) probiotic strains may vary in modulatory potential in respiratory allergy, (2) probiotic bacteria are beneficial in oral and intranasal administration, (3) recombinant probiotic bacteria can modulate the course of respiratory allergy.

House Dust Algae from Aurangabad City of Maharashtra

House dust contains different biocomponents. Algae are one of the important biocomponents of house dust and is present in the form of spores and filaments. Dust samples were collected from houses of patients suffering from respiratory allergy in Aurangabad city during September 2017 to August 2018. Total of 34 samples were collected and cultured in the petriplates containing agarized Bold’s basal medium (BBM). Algal forms belonged to Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae were cultured and identified. Cyanophycean algae dominated the algal flora of house dust. Algal taxa which were found abundant in house dust are Chlorococcum humicola, Chlorella vulgaris, Nitzshia palea, Aphanothece nidulans, Phormidium molle, Microcoleus acutissimus, and Plectonema gracillimum. 16 algal taxa recorded in the present study are allergenic to human beings.