The prevalence of immediate positive skin tests in Nepalese children

Two hundred and ninety-three normal schoolchildren between 5 and 15 years old living in the hills of Eastern Nepal were tested by the skin prick method for sensitivity to six allergens: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Aspergillus fumigatus. Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium notatum, mixed pollens and mixed threshings. These children were also questioned and examined for symptoms and signs relating to allergic disease. Of the children, 20% were skin-prick positive to at least one of the allergens, and 20% had symptoms of allergic disease, but there was no relationship between the symptoms and the prick test results. No relationship was found between the prick test results and any of the following: the length of time a child was breast-fed; the age of the child and his month of birth. Of the boys, 19% admitted to smoking cigarettes, as did 11% of the girls.