Common Allergens Prevalent in and Around Ambala, Haryana: An Intradermal Study among Patients with Asthma and...

Identification of allergens by intradermal test in patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema.

Intradermal test was performed in 100 patients of Ambala over an 8-year period to identify the common allergens. A total of 197 allergens including 50 types of pollen, 19 fungi, 17 insects, 14 types of dust, 6 animal dander, 7 types of fabric and feather and 82 types of foods, dust mite, and parthenium were tested.

In this study, the major allergens were pollen (51%) followed by foods (28.9%), insects (26.9%), fungus (12.6%), dusts (6.7%). Among pollen allergens, Brassica campestris (8%) was a major allergen followed by Ageratum conyzoides (7%) and Artemisia scoparia (6%) Cannabis sativa, Cynodon dactylon and Maerua arenaria (5%). Among the fungal group, Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigates, Candida albicans, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus nigricans (3%), Fusarium solani (2%) were found. In the insect group, mosquito (7%), ant (6%), grasshopper (5%), locust (male), moth, and house fly (4%) were the major allergens. Among the dust allergens, grain dust rice (3%), straw dust, house dust, and grain dust bajra (2%) were found. Among the food allergens, prawn (5%), almonds, Baker's yeast, Bengal gram (3%) and mushroom, mango ripe, rajma, cinnamon, chocolate, beans fresh, and areca nut (2%) were found.

It can be said that the knowledge may help to create a mapping of allergens in this area and help to treat patients by immunotherapy or avoidance strategy.