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Exposure and allergic sensitization to cockroach allergen in East Germany
Author(s) -
Thomas Hirsch,
C. Stappenbeck,
Volker Neumeister,
Stephan K. Weiland,
Erika von Mutius,
Ulrich Keil,
W Leupold
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00785.x
Subject(s) - sensitization , medicine , asthma , wheeze , cockroach , immunology , allergy , allergen , immunoglobulin e , hay fever , bronchial hyperresponsiveness , population , environmental health , respiratory disease , antibody , biology , ecology , lung
Background Some studies suggest that the prevalence of sensitization to cockroach allergens may be higher in the United States than in Europe, but there are no comparable data from population‐based studies. Objectives To determine the prevalence of allergic sensitization to German cockroach (GCR) in German schoolchildren and to assess its clinical relevance; and to determine the exposure to the major GCR allergen Bla g 2 in non‐selected homes and nurseries. Methods The prevalence of allergic sensitization to GCR and other allergens was determined by measurement of specific IgE and skin‐prick tests in a cross‐sectional study of 2993 children aged 5–11 years in Dresden, Germany. The prevalence of atopic disease was determined by questionnaire, and pulmonary function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to hypertonic saline were measured. Bla g 2 exposure was determined on floors of 187 kitchens and 47 nurseries by a commercial sandwich ELISA. Results One hundred and twenty‐seven (4.2%) of the children had specific IgE (> 0.7 kU/L) against GCR. Among children with current wheeze, 8.4% were GCR‐sensitized. Compared to data from the United States, the prevalence of sensitization to cockroach was similar in children without asthma (3.9%), but less frequent in asthmatic children from Dresden (6.1%). After adjustment for positive reactions to other allergens (SX1 test) no significant impact of GCR sensitization on wheeze or other symptoms and diagnoses was found. Bla g 2 was detected in 29% of the kitchens and 43% of the nurseries. None of these sites had exposure levels above the proposed threshold for causing disease of 80 ng/g dust. Conclusion The data suggest that allergic sensitization to GCR is less frequent in asthmatics from Dresden, Gemany than in US cities. The data indicate that GCR sensitization is not an independent risk factor for asthma and other atopic diseases in 5–11‐year‐olds from this city.