Profil de sensibilisation aux pneumallergènes des patients asthmatiques au Centre hospitalier universitaire de Brazzaville

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the frequency of allergic asthma; to describe the socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical characteristics; to define the type of sensitization; to identify factors associated with the type of sensitization.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study from August to December 2020 of asthmatic patients consecutively recruited in the pneumology and pediatrics departments of the Brazzaville University Hospital Center and who had completed a prick test. The standardized allergenic extracts used were: positive and negative control, mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [DP], Dermatophagoides farinae [DF] and Blomia tropicalis), cockroaches, molds (Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus fumigatus), pollen (5 grasses), hair (cat and dog) and latex.

Results

Of fifty-nine patients tested, 52 (88.1%) had at least one positive skin reaction. The average age was 29.5 years, and there was a predominance of women (63.5%). Of these patients, 82.7% were polysensitized and the average number of sensitizations was 3 ± 2. Sensitization to dust mites was the most frequent (80.7%) followed by cockroaches (46.2%). We noted a significant association between mite sensitization and young age (P = 0.06). Multiple sensitizations were strongly associated with mite sensitization (P = 0.0002). A significant association was found in our study between cockroach sensitization and asthma severity (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Asthmatics followed in Brazzaville have a polysensitization dominated by dust mites.