Rationale: The sensitisation profile to airborne allergens of asthma patients followed in Benin is not known.
Patients and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2013 at the hospital reference centre. A prick-test was performed in all adults with asthma consulting during this period. The standardized allergenic extracts tested were: mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [DP], Dermatophagoides farinae [DF] and Blomia tropicalis [BT]), cockroaches, 5 different grasses, Alternaria, dogs and cats. The test was positive when the diameter of the wheal was more than half that of the positive control and/or when the diameter of the wheal was ≥3mm than the negative control.
Results: Of the 253 asthmatics tested, 247 (97.6%) had at least one positive skin reaction. The average age was 44 years, the sex ratio was 0.81. Sensitization to mites was the most frequent (99.6%), followed by cockroaches (71.3%), 5 grasses (71.3%), Alternaria (71%), dog (68%) and cat (63.6%). The average number of sensitivities was 5±2.
Conclusion: Asthmatics monitored in Cotonou have multiple sensitisations dominated by mites.
Keywords: Acariens; Airborne allergen; Allergie; Allergy; Asthma; Asthme; Mites; Pneumallergène; Prick-test; Skin prick-test.
Copyright © 2014 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.