International Society of Dermatology - Palm Coast, FL - USA

Author: Kassahun Desalegn MD^1,6, Takeshi Nishikawa MD, PhD², Afework Kassu BSc, MSc, PhD cand^3,5, Andargachew Mulu BSc³, Gizachew Yismaw BSc³, Sisay Yefru MD⁴, Fusao Ota MD, PhD^5
1 Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, the University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
² Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo Campus, Division of Medicine and Nursing, Japan
³ Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, the University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
⁴ Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, the University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
⁵ Department of Preventive Environment and Nutrition, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
⁶ Departement of Dermatovenereology, Addis Ababa University,
Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Key words: Allergen, Allergic Reaction, Skin Sensitivity, Skin Scratch Test, Gondar
Correspondence: Kassahun Desalegn, MD, Dermatovenereology Resident; Addis Ababa University, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;
Email: kassahun@ownmail.net. Cellular: 0911800127

ABSTRACT

Background: The different variety of substances that surround a population results in allergic reactions of different clinical varieties. Although few countries have their own standard prevalence of allergic diseases to variety of allergens determined by different tests like scratch tests and patch tests, the prevalence is not known and has never been studied in Ethiopia. Our objective in the study is to assess the prevalence of allergic diseases to few known allergens of certain population groups of Ethiopian subjects. Methods: A total of 216 subjects in six groups (Diabetics, AIDS patients, asthmatics, tuberculosis patients, infants, and healthy individuals) were clinically evaluated and tested for skin scratch test using five types of allergens (mite extract, dog fur, egg white, Candida albicans, and Penicillium) and white blood cell count with differential determined with standard procedures. Results: Positive reaction to one or more of the allergens is detected in 49.5% of the subjects, the most prevalent allergen being mite extract. Twenty seven percent of the subjects showed reaction to multiple allergens. Infants had low prevalence of positive reaction than adults (P=0.01), but there was no difference in allergic status of other groups of subjects. The mean eosinophilic count was significantly high in asthmatics than non asthmatics (P=0) and in subjects who reacted at least to one of the allergens than in those who showed no reaction (P=0.038). There was no difference in pattern of allergenicity among different groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of allergic reaction
to the few allergens tested is high in different population groups of Ethiopian subjects and further study using several allergens is recommended to substantiate this finding.