Skin Test Reactivity to Fungal Aeroallergens in Asthmatic Children in Southern Iran

The development of asthma appears to involve interplay between host factors and environmental exposures. The most important environmental factors are viral respiratory infections and airborne allergens in consist of sensitization to fungal aeroallergens [1]. Exposure to fungal aeroallergens was reported to be a cause of asthma in many parts of the world. There are few data on the prevalence of allergy to molds in Iran. This study was performed to determine the positive skin prick test to molds and their related risk factors in asthmatic children in Shiraz, southern Iran (Table 1). Skin prick test was done in two hundred and thirty asthmatic children with five types of common fungal aeroallergens (Aspergillus fumigatus, Caldosporium herbarum, Penicillium, Alternaria and Rhizopus). Out of 230 asthmatic children (175 boys, 55 girls) with mean age 6.343 years, 25 (10.9%) had positive skin test to molds. In other studies this rate was reported to be different between 2% to 80%[2]. Of 25 children with positive skin test to molds, the common fungal aeroallergen was Aspergillus followed by Cladosporium, Alternaria, Penicillium and Rhizopus. Amin R et al studied airborne fungal spores in Shiraz. The most important fungi, in order of numbers, had been Altenaria, Aspergilus, Rhizopus and Penicillium[3]. With regard to results of skin prick test in our study, it seems that Alternia is the most common outdoor fungus, but Aspergillus could be the most important indoor fungus. Another study showed in asthmatic patients that main skin test reactivity to fungi was for Aspergillus but most frequent cultured fungus was Cladosporium[4]. Of 25 subjects with positive skin test to molds, 5 (20%) were females, 20 (80%) were residents of urban areas and 4 (56%) lived in homes older than ten years. There was no significant correlation between the prevalence of mold skin test positivity in males and females, rural and urban habitats and age of homes.