Journal of Fasa University of Medical Sciences (Apr 2016)
Investigating the Prevalence, Determining the Effects of Immunologic Sensitization and Clinical Symptoms Related to Allergens Existing in Khuzestan Province
Abstract
Background & Objective: Recently, the increased prevalence of allergic diseases and this particular disorder causes lots of problems for those suffering from the disorder. Allergens are attributed to elements, which can bring allergies to those who are prone to it. They motivate the immune system, and activate biogenetic materials, released from mastocytes. Therefore, this study was performed to assess the prevalence of allergens causing diseases in Khuzestan Province. Materials & Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study, which involved 150 patients affected by allergies in 2014. The tools applied for collecting the information consisted of a checklist containing two parts: the patients’ satisfaction form and the demographic clues. In addition, for diagnosing allergies in patient's skin, prick test was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS13 software. Result: In this study, 88% were sensitive to allergens. From those diagnosed, 86 patients were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, 22 patients with asthma, 13 patients with skin allergies, and 29 of those patients suffered from a mixture of skin allergies, nose allergies, and asthma. In patients, the most predominant symptoms resulted in patients were sneezing (76.6%), rhinorrhea (72%), and itching (68%) (p˂0.001). There was a significant association between the family background of allergies and allergy diseases (p=0.012). The Salsola kali plant showed an increased number of allergy symptoms outbreak s in this area. Conclusion: According to this study, the amount of allergens and the rate of clinical symptoms is very high among the inhabitants of this area, therefore, it is recommended to conduct more studies in order to decrease the allergic symptoms and to identify the antigenic function of allergens in different climates.
