Prevalence of Common Aeroallergens in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis in Gorgan, North of Iran, Based on Skin Prick Test Reactivity

Background Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common types of rhinitis. Allergen avoidance is the most important way of preventing this disease. The present study is carried out to determine the frequency of common aeroallergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in Gorgan city by skin prick test (SPT) reactivity. Materials and Methods  In this cross-sectional study 270 patients referring to the Asthma and Allergic Center in Gorgan city, Iran, were enrolled. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was confirmed by specialist asthma and allergy. A questionnaire containing demographic data and patient’s history was completed. Skin prick test containing standard allergen extracts, histamine, and physiologic serum was performed on patients. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version16.0. Results: In the present study, 270 patients (113 males and 157 females) had perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), and mixed allergic rhinitis (MAR) (n=166, 54, 47, receptivity). Out of these patients, the most common aeroallergens was a house dust mite called Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (43.7%), other common allergen were: weeds (40.7%), Dermatophagoides farinae (40.4%), grasses (32.5%), beetles (30%), trees (22.5%), and molds (16.3%). There was a significant relationship between prevalence of allergy to grasses and gender (P=0.016), weeds and age (P