IgE-mediated skin reaction among asthmatic children in Riyadh

Fifty-five asthmatic children aged 6-13 years attending a pediatric allergy clinic were skin tested with a panel of 35 inhalant commercial allergens. The allergen extracts were grouped into pollen including trees, grasses and weeds, fungal spores, insect, animal and other indoor allergens. Thirty-five (63.6%) of the asthmatic children had one or more positive skin reactions. Reactions were most common, and strongest to the indoor and animal panel and to pollens. Fungal reactions were less common and weaker. This represents a lower proportion of skin test-positive asthmatic children than other Western countries. This might relate either to the presence of asthma without atopy, lack of exposure to potential allergens, or lack of appropriate antigens relevant to the disease in the skin test panel.