[Prosopis spp. in allergic diseases].

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Clinical Immunology
• Environmental Allergens
• Public Health

Background:

• Allergic diseases are prevalent in Mexico City.
• Prosopis pollen is a common environmental allergen.
• Understanding local allergenicity is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cutaneous reactivity to Prosopis pollen.
• To determine the role of Prosopis pollen in allergic diseases.
• To identify allergic patients attending a specific clinic in Mexico City.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective and cross-sectional study design.
• Analysis of clinical records (n=1285) aged 3-79 years.
• Inclusion of patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis.

Main Results:

• Positive skin reactivity to Prosopis pollen observed in 27.78% of patients.
• High prevalence of allergic rhinitis (82.97%) among studied patients.
• Significant percentages diagnosed with asthma (4.39%) and rhinoconjunctivitis (12.64%).

Conclusions:

• Prosopis pollen is a key factor in allergic diseases.
• Antigenic interactions with other pollen families (e.g., Chenopodiaceae) should be considered.
• Clinical immunology services should routinely test for Prosopis sensitivity.