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Study of the sensitization to storage mites in a pediatric population in Barcelona
1Clinical Allergy and Immunology Unit, Vall d'Hebron Maternity & Children's Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
This study found that 11% of children with respiratory issues in Barcelona showed sensitization to storage mites. Most of these children were also sensitized to common house dust mites.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Sensitization to mites is a common cause of respiratory problems in children.
- Storage mites, often found in homes, are less studied than house dust mites in pediatric populations.
- Understanding mite sensitization is crucial for effective allergy management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and characteristics of sensitization to storage mites in children with respiratory issues.
- To identify which storage mite species are most commonly associated with sensitization.
- To explore the relationship between storage mite sensitization and sensitization to house dust mites.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 356 children over 3 years old with new respiratory problems in Barcelona were studied.
- Cutaneous prick tests were performed for common house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae) and storage mites (Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae).
- Radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) and conjunctival tests were used when indicated.
Main Results:
- 11% (39 out of 356) of the children exhibited cutaneous sensitization to storage mites.
- Lepidoglyphus destructor was the most significant storage mite allergen identified.
- The majority of children sensitized to storage mites (92%) were also sensitized to house dust mites.
Conclusions:
- Storage mite sensitization is present in a notable proportion of children with respiratory issues.
- Co-sensitization with house dust mites is common, suggesting cross-reactivity or shared environmental exposures.
- Further research into storage mite allergens and their clinical impact in pediatric respiratory allergies is warranted.
Abstract:
We performed the following study in order to determine the prevalence and characteristics of sensitization to storage mites in children mostly from the city of Barcelona. All children over 3 years of age attending our unit for the first time due to respiratory problems were given cutaneous tests using the prick test for the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and the storage mites Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae. We carried out a RAST and conjunctival test when it was considered appropriate. Of a total of 356 children studied, 39 showed cutaneous sensitization to storage mites, which represented 11% of the population studied, and 20% of the total sensitized to mites. However, only 3 of these children were only sensitized to storage mites, the remaining 36 (92%) also showing sensitization to house dust mites. Of the storage mites studied, L. destructor was the most significant. A history of immunotherapy to mites was associated with a greater percentage of positive cutaneous tests to storage mites, although this was not the case with the RAST test.
