Registration successful
Account activated – pending validation.
Your account has been activated successfully, but we still need to validate you as a healthcare professional. We’ll send you an email with the result of the validation process in the next three days.
In the meantime, you can enjoy access to all the latest news, events and resources for different therapy areas on our website.Prevalence of sensitisation to aeroallergens in young adults in Cameroon
A large proportion of young adults in Cameroon are sensitised to common aeroallergens, including dust mites and cockroaches, according to a recent report in Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. 1
The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in February–April 2014 to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with sensitisation to common allergens in Cameroon. 1The study population comprised 600 young adults from the University of Douala, Cameroon’s most populated city. 1
The students completed a questionnaire and underwent a skin prick test for 8 common aeroallergens. 1
About half of the participants (50.2%) were found to have symptoms indicating allergic rhinitis, and 8% had symptoms of asthma. 1
Prevalence of allergic sensitisation in this subset of young adults in sub-Saharan Africa was 42.8% (95% confidence interval 38.8–46.8). 1
A considerable proportion of young adults were found to be sensitised to at least 1 allergen. 1The most prevalent sensitisers were:
- House dust mites:
- Dermatophagoides farinae (24.2%)
- Blomia tropicalis (23.3%)
- Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (22.8%)
- Dermatophagoides farinae (24.2%)
- Cockroach allergens:
- Blattella germanica (15.2%).
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, family atopy and wheezing during the past year were independent factors associated with sensitisation to common aeroallergens. 1
Based on their findings, the authors concluded that skin prick tests for dust mite and cockroach allergens should be considered for patients presenting with allergic rhinitis and asthma. 1
