An evalution of atopic diseases in relation to immediate skin test reactions among schoolchildren in the Sør‐Varanger community

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
• Main Authors: Dotterud, Lars Kåre, Kvammen, Bjørn, Lund, Eiliv, Faik, Edvard S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1995
• Subjects: Sør-Varanger; Varanger
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.1995.tb00112.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1468-3083.1995.tb00112.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1468-3083.1995.tb00112.x

Abstract Aim To compare the frequency of questionnaire based diagnosis of atopic diseases to those of clinical findings and sensitization and to evaluate the reliability of self‐reported reactions to allergens with those confirmed by skin prick tests. Background Not only airborne allergens but also environmental indoor and outdoor air pollution are regarded as risk factors for the development of respiratory diseases in children. Metals, soot, SO 2 , passive smoking and pollution from new building materials irritate both the skin and the respiratory mucosa and also increase the risk of atopic sensitization. A strong indication that atopic diseases are common in Sør‐Varanger community, an area heavily polluted by the nearby Russian smelting plants, prompted us to investigate this hypothesis. Subjects The clinical and immunological examination involved 424 out of 575 schoolchildren aged 7–12 years. Results A total of 36% of the subjects were atopic; i.e. atopic dermatitis was established in 23% and mucous membrane atopy in 18%. 44% were definite non‐atopies, leaving 14% not classifiable in either group and 6% latent atopies. Sensitization was confirmed by positive prick tests in 69% of children with a history of pollen allergy and 11% of those with a history of allergy to animal dander. Conclusions Skin prick tests are of little value in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis but of major importance for the confirmation of mucous membrane atopy. In cases of controversy between history, clinical findings and sensitization, it is difficult to decide between atopies and non‐atopies. Allergological examinations may be restricted to individuals with a positive symptom‐based diagnosis only.