Mite sensitisation is on the increase even in clean air cities
Significant increase in house dust mite sensitisation and allergy has been recorded in the general population of a city with low and stable levels of air pollution. The health of selected subjects, originally enrolled in a cross sectional study on allergen sensitization in 1984, were revisited and reviewed in 1998. They came from the wide age range of 14 to 64 and all were living in a city with a low and stable level of air pollution. The researchers found a significant increase in sensitization and allergic symptoms to common indoor allergens, especially the house dust mite for all age groups and that this increase is best seen in subjects with conjunctivitis and rhinitis rather than with symptoms of asthma. This report also reviews other large population studies, many of which agree with this study’s findings.
Reference: ‘Skin prick-test reactivity to aeroallergens and allergic symptoms in an urban population of central Italy: a longitudinal study’, Dottorini ML et al, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2007: 37; 188-196
