[Can Acarus siro be considered an allergenic mite in children? Evaluation of 248 cases]

Among 248 allergic children we noted 44 children (21%) with strongly or moderately positive cutaneous tests (In seven out of these tested children respiratory provocation tests are very positive). They are urban children and their houses are not different from other allergic children. They are mostly boys (72%), more than 5 years old (91%), with an asthma (84%), a radiological sinusitis (45%), an hypereosinophilia (88%) and elevated total IgE (90%). 43/44 children also have positive cutaneous tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus mite. Since respiratory sensitivity is exquisite, we undertook a specific hyposensitization for some patients with encouraging results.