Allergic profile of Congolese individuals exposed to flour dust as compared with a non-exposed work group

Results Workers that were directly exposed to flour dust showed a prevalence of rhinitis (57.4%), rhinoconjonctivitis (43.5%), and nocturnal cough (11.0%) significantly higher than the indirectly exposed (43.5%, 14.7% and 5.4%) and controls (37.3%, 11.6% and 6.3%), all p<0.05. 36.8% of flour dust directly exposed workers showed positive SPT to at least one allergens, that was significantly lower than 44.2% of controls. DPT and cockroaches were the most prevalent allergens in all groups. Storage mite was more prevalent among workers directly exposed, while pollen mix, sunflower pollen and crab were more prevalent in controls. Within the directly exposed group, sensitization to manioc flour was higher among individuals exposed to manioc and/or maize flour than those exposed to wheat flour. Of individuals reporting rhinitis, 37.0% showed positive SPT results. In multivariate analysis, direct exposure to flour, neighborhood of flour mill and mice in the house significantly increased the risk of having airway symptoms. Mice in the house increased the risk of sensitization. However, cooking with electricity was negatively associated with both airway symptoms and sensitization.