The prevalence of sensitization to cockroaches. Experience of an allergy service

BACKGROUND Allergy skin prick tests are important tools for the diagnosis of respiratory allergic diseases. Cockroach antigens have been identified as the cause of rhinitis, asthma, and other allergic diseases. OBJECTIVE To show that the cockroach antigen participates in the cause of allergic diseases. METHODS A retrolective and cross-sectional study was carried out, for which clinical records and history of atopy were reviewed; the results were obtained from blood biometry, nasal cytology, total IgE, and coproparasitoscopic serial tests. After prior informed consent, skin tests were applied in 3-74 year-old patients. RESULTS 1,837 patients were studied; the prevalence of cutaneous reactivity to the cockroach antigen was of 17.90%; 56% of the patients had a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, and only 6% had been diagnosed with asthma and rhinitis. CONCLUSION The application of the cockroach antigen in skin tests must be considered in the practice of all allergists.