Mold allergy in Adana, Turkey

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Mycology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Respiratory allergies, including asthma and allergic rhinitis, affect a significant portion of the population.
• Fungal allergens, particularly from molds, are increasingly recognized as important environmental triggers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of various fungi as causative agents in respiratory allergies.
• To identify specific mold species responsible for allergic reactions in patients.

Main Methods:

• Skin prick tests were performed on 614 respiratory allergic patients using extracts from 19 different fungi.
• Diagnosis of allergic conditions was based on patient history, clinical examination, and skin prick testing.
• Indoor mold samples were collected from mold-sensitive patients.

Main Results:

• Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common fungus causing positive skin tests (26.0%).
• Other significant fungi included Trichophyton rubrum, Mucor, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus niger, and Alternaria tenius.
• Penicillium was the most frequently isolated mold genus (29.6%) from patient environments.

Conclusions:

• Molds play a crucial role as causative agents in allergic rhinitis and asthma.
• Specific fungal species like Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium are important allergens for respiratory allergic patients.