Allergenic environment in asthmatic children in Annaba (Algeria)

We determined blood levels of total and specific immunoglobulins E in a cohort of 75 asthmatic children at Annaba (mean age: 9 years, sex ratio M/F: 1,64). Analysis clinical investigation and biological results allowed us to estimate the clinico-biological relations in this population. We showed that: atopy based on family criteria was very frequent (74%); the symptoms of atopy associated with asthma were frequent for atopic children (96%) whose majority (46%) had severe asthma (grade 3) that required treatment. Sensitization to trophallergens was rare in this population and always associated with sensitizations to pneumallergens (acariens: 2/3; cockroaches: 50%). Sensitizations to pneumallergens seemed promoted by climatic conditions in the area of Annaba that increased the risk of developing allergic diseases.